Hotel Designs

Designed by Peter Roth, and with all the stylish characteristics of the original Evosa, the Evosa Congress from Burgess Furniture sets the bar in outstanding design and quality. Available in three model options, all come with a stylish, chrome-plated steel frame and the latest innovative stacking buffers.The slim webbed seat and unique hidden back construction creates an exceptionally supportive framework which becomes moulded to your back. This provides enduring comfort for your customers while maintaining a light weight chair that can be frame stacked up to 10 high.

A wide range of finishes are offered together with a large selection of fabrics from the Burgess collection, leading to beautiful and bespoke seating solutions.

With its effortless blend of classic elegance and modern ergonomics, the Evosa Congress is the perfect chair for the most prestigious venues.

To contact Burgess Furniture, please visit their website: www.burgessfurniture.com

Llandudno Travelodge, an 82- room property has been opened on the site of the former Clarence House hotel on Gloddeath Street. The hotel is part of a mixed-use development programme which includes three retail units being located below the hotel. To mark Travelodge coming to Llandudno, an official opening event was held at the hotel where The Mayor of Llandudno, Councillor Malcolm Bullock joined Travelodge’s Chief Financial Officer, Jo Boydell to officially open the hotel.

As part of the celebrations, to mark this momentous moment, Travelodge also invited local residents to attend the opening event and have the opportunity to win a luxurious bespoke king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed worth £600. The lucky winner was Mrs Jennifer Jones.

Llandudno Travelodge has been designed in the Company’s new contemporary brand look, which includes a new room design which has been created by Travelodge customers. The hero of the new room is the new bespoke luxurious Travelodge Dreamer bed and for the first time, the hotel chain has also introduced Truckle beds into all of its family rooms for children.

Jo Boydell, Travelodge’s Chief Financial Officer said: “We are delighted to making history today by opening our first Travelodge in Llandudno, which is also the first branded hotel in the town centre. Llandudno is a great location for Travelodge and by offering great quality rooms at unbeatable prices we are perfectly positioned as the county’s favourite hotel brand for value, which will help attract new visitors to the area. This is great news for the local community too, as our research shows annually Travelodge customers will boost the local economy by £2 million during their stay.”

Mayor of Llandudno said: “It is good to see good quality reasonable priced accommodation in the town. There is a need for it. It is nice to see a run-down building restored and brought back into use. I wish them well.”

Llandudno Travelodge is being managed by Joanne Cawthray, who started her career as a receptionist at Porthmadog Travelodge in 2010 and rapidly climbed the career ladder and become a hotel manager within three months of starting with the company. Since then, Joanne has had two children and has managed various Travelodge hotels across North Wales.

Joanne’s strong team of 15 staff have been employed via Travelodge’s relationship with the Job Centre Plus – which helps the long term unemployed back into the workplace.
Joanne Cawthray, Llandudno Travelodge Hotel Manager said: “I am thrilled to be managing the very first branded hotel in the heart of Llandudno only minutes from the beach and famous pier. The hotel has got off to a flying start and we are fully booked for the Llandudno Air Show and Elton John concert in June. Also our reservation data shows we are expected to be sold out for this summer.”

“To celebrate coming to Llandudno, we thought it would be a good idea for a local resident to win the hero of our new room, the new bespoke luxurious Travelodge Dreamer bed. We have installed these beds into all of our 38,000 rooms across the UK as part of a £100 million modernisation programme. Congratulations to Mrs Jennifer Jones for being the proud owner of a new Travelodge Dreamer bed.”

Llandudno Travelodge offers a range of rooms which includes: family, double and accessible. A Travelodge family room caters for either two adults and two children or three adults. The room features two space saving comfy truckle beds, providing an enhanced service for families staying in the room. When the beds are in use the base can be used for storing luggage, providing extra space in the room.

Each room has en-suite facilities with eco-friendly showers, in-room toiletries including liquid soap, a flat screen TV with 18 free digital channels, free tea and coffee making facilities, and Wi-Fi for 30 minutes and then £3 for up to 24 hours.

Four Seasons Hotel Doha is pleased to announce – in partnership with acclaimed Chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa, the highly anticipated debut of Nobu Doha which opened on Friday, April 17, 2015. Located at the water’s edge along the Hotel’s private marina, Nobu Doha showcases Chef Matsuhisa’s innovative signature new-style Japanese cuisine complemented by an equally imaginative setting in the 26,000 square-foot contemporary restaurant. Offering a truly exclusive culinary experience, found nowhere else, the tri-level Nobu Doha boasts the largest of its kind in the world and is the only Nobu at a Four Seasons in the Middle East. Designed by Chef Matsuhisa’s longtime architect and internationally recognized design partner, David Rockwell and his firm Rockwell Group, the restaurant captures a distinct look and feel for Nobu’s largest global outpost. As a clever homage to Doha’s rich pearl diving past, the circular three-story restaurant resembles an ornate coiled shell. Elliptical ribbons of river stone capped with bronze accents form the exterior of the structure and create the three-tiered levels of the restaurant. Inside, Nobu Doha seamlessly transitions the shell-like inspiration throughout the seven distinct dining and lounge areas. Each space incorporates Nobu’s iconic design palette influenced by nature, such as warm wood, shimmering glasswork to reflect water elements, and rich layering of textiles.

Ideal for large or small gatherings, the airy dining and lounge spaces include an expansive 134-seat interior dining area; intimate 10-seat sushi counter; two exclusive private dining rooms; a sophisticated White Pearl Bar & Lounge; a stylish Black Pearl Bar & Lounge; and a one-of-a-kind 38-seat roof top lounge that encompasses both indoor and outdoor seating options. Strategically positioned along the Arabian Gulf, guests can experience unobstructed panoramic water or cityscape views, whether dining inside or out.

“Chef Matsuhisa’s cuisine is about materiality, the quality of the ingredients, the translucency of the fish and the combination of colors and textures in every bite,” said Shawn Sullivan, Partner and Studio Leader, Rockwell Group. “For Nobu Doha, we developed a design vocabulary of rich, highly crafted materials influenced by the cuisine and the history and stunning natural beauty of Doha Bay.”

At the opening of its new Southampton West Quay hotel, which is located yards away from one of the UK’s leading Ports (Southampton Port), Travelodge has announced that it is looking for 14 new hotel sites in key Port locations across Britain in a bid to capitalise on the cruise boom. These 14 new hotels represent an investment of £84 million and will create 350 new jobs. Southampton West Quay Travelodge is a 94-room property which represents an investment of £6 million and has created 30 new jobs. This opening has boosted Travelodge’s presence in Southampton to three hotels.

The transformation of the UK ports industry during the last ten years has created a thriving and highly competitive industry with the number of people taking trips from UK ports rising year on year. Today the UK is the number one cruise market in Europe and the second largest in the world. Figures from the Department for Transport highlight that number of UK International Sea Passengers rose to 22.4million in 2013.

Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises are the most popular amongst British holidaymakers. In 2013, one in three UK passengers chose Northern Europe as their cruise destination, with Norway being the stand out destination. In addition 49% of UK passengers started their cruises at a British port in 2013 and this is forecast to overtake fly cruises.

Travelodge has 516 hotels in the UK, Ireland and Spain and 48 of its properties are located in the vicinity of Britain’s busiest Ports. As a result of the record number of Britons taking to the waves, these 48 Port based Travelodge hotels have reported a 9% increase in occupancy during the last 12 months.

Paul Harvey, Travelodge Managing Director, Property said: “As a result of more Britons taking to the waves, we have also experienced a boom at Travelodge. Our Port based hotels have seen a 9% rise in occupancy as Britons kick start their dream sea holiday by staying over in a Travelodge hotel prior to early embarkation.

“To support this growing holiday trend, we are looking for a further 14 new hotel sites at UK’s busiest Port locations. This includes another site in Southampton, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Harwich.”

James Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Associated British Ports, said: “The UK’s ports are going through something of a renaissance at the moment with significant investments taking place across the country. One of the fastest growing segments has been ferry traffic as people increasingly appreciate that ferries offer better value and less hassle than the alternatives. Also add the extraordinary growth in the cruise industry in recent years and it is not surprising that demand for hotels in our ports is also increasing.”

In March I made a long overdue trip back from the antipodean colonies to the motherland. To break up the frenetic efforts to see everyone, I took a short trip across La Manche to stay briefly in picturesque Paris and lodging at a French classic, Le Belmont.

Le Belmont is a four star hotel in the heart of the city. The building is a very old block, typical of Paris, and has all of the character that goes with it. Its location just off the Champs-Élysées is a major attraction, placing the hotel at the heart of tourist Paris. Both the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe are a 10 minute walk and there is a metro station at the end of the street.
The hotel is decorated in a pseudo Parisian Palatial style, cut with marks of modernism. The public areas filled with furniture leaning towards a French aristocratic persuasion but the rooms have modern colourful chandeliers and the fireplace is filled with colour-changing LED candles.

The corridors are somewhat confronting, as they lack good lighting, and as a consequence are very dark, emphasised by the paint colours. The bedrooms are in a typically extravagant style but with a clear budget restraint. While the headboards appear as velvet curtaining in the imagery, this is actually a printed fabric with a fabric panel across the top, to give a more three dimensional effect.

Global modular flooring manufacturer, Interface, has unveiled its latest technical innovation by creating the world’s first recycled latex substitute using laminate found in car glass.Driven by its commitment to Mission Zero, Interface has developed a method for using recycled poly-vinyl butyral (PVB) to replace the existing latex pre-coat widely used in the carpet tile industry to fix the yarn to the backing.

PVB is the laminate found in glass which prevents it from shattering, and is most commonly found in car windscreens. The industry has been recycling this type of glass for some time but had found no solution for recycling the PVB.

Working alongside new and old partners, including Shark Solutions, Interface invested 10 years of research in developing the ground-breaking process and, as a result of this co-innovation, PVB has been given a second life in a new, sustainable supply chain.

PVB has a carbon footprint that is 80 per cent less than the existing latex pre-coat used in the industry. Interface Europe currently uses 43 per cent of recycled or bio-based raw materials and the Mission Zero goal is 100 per cent by 2020.

The new material will bring Interface’s use of recycled or bio-based raw materials to 66 per cent when applied to all products and, as such, in the next two years, Interface believes products with up to 90 per cent recycled or bio-based content will be achievable.

By avoiding the use of SBR latex by using PVB, Interface’s products comply with the Swedish scheme, SundaHus.

Interface’s Scandinavian collection is the first range available with recycled PVB.

To contact Interface, please visit their website: www.interface.co.uk

The multi award-winning developer, Crown Group, has recently announced the highly anticipated details of Crown Ashfield; an oasis of luxury residences.The AUD $88-Million resort-style development is located nine kilometres from the Sydney CBD, six kilometres from the University of Sydney, 10 kilometers from the airport, 300 meters from Ashfield Mall and 750 meters from the railway station Ashfield.

Crown Ashfield apartment will begin sales at same-day launch events in Sydney, Indonesia and Singapore on May 23.

“After the success of the global launch of Sydney by Crown in November we’re pleased to announce the global launch of our newest world-class project Crown Ashfield,” said Karen Chia, country director of Crown Group Singapore.

The forward-thinking design by Surry Hills architects Turner features natural, organic elements throughout including an internal atrium, abundant natural light, a flowing sculpted water feature and lush greenery.

Located at 168 Liverpool Road close to shops, restaurants, schools and public transport, the modern nine-storey development comprises 79 boutique apartments, four exclusive retail spaces, resident and visitors’ car parking, grand lobby lounge, theatrette, piano room and rooftop communal facilities including a terrace and a recreational area with spectacular city views.

“Crown Ashfield can also be regarded as one of our best offers for potential investors in Asia, especially Singapore,” Karen added.

Over the last 5 years, the value of residential property in Ashfield has grown by 72.2 per cent, with apartments increasing by 57 per cent, while the median house prices are approximately AUD1.2 million dollars.

“Ashfield is becoming increasingly popular with local and international buyers because of its exceptional growth in property values and its close proximity to the CBD,” Karen said.

Crown Group Chief Executive Iwan Sunito said Crown Ashfield will be an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

“Crown Ashfield will be a sanctuary for its residents, a place where they can feel revitalised after a busy day,” Mr Sunito said.

“This boutique luxury development embodies our desire to redefine the boundaries of design and innovation; the architecture is sharp and refined; the forest interior concept is stunning and the view is spectacular.

“Crown Ashfield is an important milestone for Crown Group as our brand continues to gain momentum around the world,” he said.

New images released today reveal light-filled common areas, luxurious living and dining spaces and a rooftop terrace with spectacular uninterrupted views of Sydney’s CBD and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Apartments have been designed with modern lifestyles and the latest technology in mind and include an abundance of internal storage and Miele appliances. Many apartments also include a multipurpose media lounge, easily utilized as additional lounge seating.

Principal and founder of Turner, Nicholas Turner, said Crown Ashfield’s design, with elegant and naturally finished qualities used throughout the residents’ lounge, piano room and theatrette, creates “a calm and cool entry sequence.”

“Crown Ashfield will present as a high quality, contributory piece of contemporary architecture, prominently located along the ridge of Ashfield,” Mr Turner said.

“The metaphor of the tree is used to express the verticality of the facade screening and dramatic floating roof and also reference the natural, serene materials within the building”.

Winner of some of the most coveted industry awards, including the 2014 UDIA NSW best concept design, Crown Group has earned a reputation for outstanding residential developments with five-star resort style facilities.

Crown Group achieved an impressive $173 million in sales within four hours at the launch of Sydney by Crown in November, after reaching its $100 million sales target within two hours.

Crown Group is now accepting expressions of interest for Crown Ashfield, with sales set to begin on May 23.

The luxury development is due for completion in mid-2016.

Luxury fabric specialist, Kobe, has welcomed Olen Watt, a new sales agent for its Essente brand, covering Ireland (North and South).

Olen is well-established within the industry, having worked in soft furnishings for over 10 years. He said: “I am delighted to be on board and working with such a strong and continually evolving brand.“I look forward to meeting clients and using my wealth of experience in the industry to help guide them in creating inspirational interiors.”

Being a father of three he doesn’t get much spare time, but any he does get, he spends improving his golf handicap.

Kobe UK is part of the Dutch-based Kobefab International company which supplies more than 8,000 interior design and soft furnishing customers in over 60 countries with more than 7,000 products from its headquarters in Valkenswaard, Holland. More than 90 per cent of its products are developed in-house and 95 per cent of all sourcing is done in Europe.

Kobe’s Contract Sales holds a gold membership with Trevira CS and has a wide range of 100 per cent Trevira CS fabrics – which are Oekoteks 100 certified and are regarded as the highest quality in FR inherent fabrics.

Kobe’s vinyl wall coverings are also FR inherent, durable and demand minimal maintenance. They contain recycled materials and are printed using water-based inks making them environmentally sound. Kobe wallcoverings can also contribute to a building achieving LEED credits.

The UK operation is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire. To contact Kobe, please visit their website: en.kobe.eu

New and ultra-chic Murat Reis is a hidden gem in the incredible area of Ayvalik – a part of Turkey that has long been a favourite destination for locals but little known outside the country. Stylish and smart, this spectacular hotel is the only one of its kind, including captivating views of the Aegean coast and a once in a lifetime opportunity to discover an undiscovered Turkish Delight. Set on a spectacular panoramic location, the Murat Reis Hotel has just completed a major renovation transforming the hotel’s luxurious 91 rooms, luxury bungalows and Exclusive Villa. It’s stylishly modern with a Mediterranean accent: whitewashed greys, crisp blue striped linens and light coloured Turkish Travertine marble floors. The luxury resort offers breath-taking natural views, lush green gardens and pine trees wrapped around the legendary slopes of the Kaz mountains; accented by calming waterways and what may be the loveliest sunsets in the world.

Known for its oxygen rich, clean air, the area is a major draw. Indeed, Ayvalik represents undiscovered Turkey at its best. Ayvalık Islands Nature Park is Turkey’s largest nature reserve in Turkey, with the richest underwater floor structure. Nearby there are more than twenty islands that form an ecological niche of underwater flora and fauna and 60 diving locations that provide suitable conditions all year long. Red corals have been identified in 34 places – more than the Red Sea – and helpfully, there is daily diving instruction on offer.

With two million olive trees, the area is famous for both its olives and olive oil – and it’s beauty. The charming, centuries old stone houses are built in traditional Greek materials in neo-classical style and the nearby island of Cunda (just 10 minutes away by boat) houses the Taxiarchis Church, a great example of traditional Byzantine architecture. Ayvalik has recently become a surfer’s paradise as well, as the wind that blows landward from the sea is ideal for surfing, windsurfing and the increasingly popular parachute surfing.

Naturally, with so many islands nearby, the seafood is incredible. There is gilt head, bream (dorata), red mullet, sea bream, red sea bream (coral fish), dentex, sea bass, bogue, squid, octopus, prawns, sea urchins, clams… and of course, the skullcap which is a fish unique to Ayvalık.

Murat Reis offers sunset wine tastings, two chic restaurants offering a wide selection of modern Mediterranean foods along with incredible views. There is a deck bar, pool bar and lobby bar all on offer and for the highly motivated, a vast menu of water-sports including waterskiing, wakeboard, monoski, ringo, matte, canoe, and SUP. In the Murat Reis luxury spa and fitness centre there is a heated open pool, sauna, steam room and Turkish Bath and all gym equipment affords excellent sea and island views whilst exercising. There are opportunities to visit local olive oil factories, the ancient Leka Panagia Monastery, and both city and island tours.

The Precision Concept from Lano Flooring Solutions is set to redefine axminster carpet with any pattern in one of four pre-determined colourways available in just 15-days from orders of just 50 square metres. Manufactured on high-tech precision looms, 12 on-trend designs are each available in four colourways delivering fast woven carpet in a colour and style that offer adaptability for hospitality and leisure environments. Unusually using a three-ply yarn that provides superior appearance retention and pinpoint pattern reproduction regardless of intricacy and number of colours, carpets from the Precision Concept offer exceptional design clarity.

An 80% British and New Zealand wool and 20% polyamide blend provides the best mix of durability, resilience and value. A nine-row axminster construction helps to deliver toughness for busy commercial locations.

Birger Karlsson, UK sales director, Lano:

“The Precision Concept provides designers, contractors and owners with beautiful semi-bespoke axminster in exceptionally short timescales and with a very small order quantity. This means smaller hospitality environments such as public houses and boutique B&Bs can benefit from luxurious semi-bespoke axminster.”

With a Class 33 Heavy Contract Rating and designs that lift any interior environment, carpets from the Precision Concept are an assured flooring choice delivered fast.

For further information, freephone 00800 5266 5266, www.lano.com

Axel Schoenert architects was commissioned by Paris Inn Group to refurbish the Paris-Gare de l’Est Hotel, an area of 9,000 sq m. The modernized four-star hotel will open in Paris this July 2015 with 206 bedrooms. Zsofia Varnagy & Axel Schoenert have redesigned the entire hotel, from the architectural reconfiguration of the spaces to the interior design, putting their mark on even the smallest details.

The hotel’s 200 bedrooms will be increased to 206 following the redevelopment. Decorated in four different tones (turquoise, yellow, blue and violet), inspired by the colours and freshness of spring, each individual and welcoming room will boast an elegant en-suite bathroom.

The new lobby design focuses on optimising spaces in order to create an open and welcoming environment. The breakfast room, reserved for hotel guests, will seat 96 after renovation. The pale tones of the interior design will be subtly picked out by touches of colour, creating a more spacious and luminous environment.

The hotel bar, which is open to the public, will be unusually furnished with a collection of elegant curves, warm and colourful, designed especially by Zsofia Varnagy. Cosy and private, it will make the perfect place for a business meeting or a moment of relaxation.

Five conference rooms, with windows to the outside, will boast all the latest technology to ensure agreeable workspaces to meet every need.

Harmonious, the overall interior design of the hotel will encapsulate all the energy and vigour of spring, offering a luxurious setting for an enjoyable experience in the heart of Paris.

Designed especially for the hotel by duo of designers Zsofia Varnagy & Axel Schoenert, the furniture line is made in harmony with the architectural concept which embodies spring’s energy and brightness and provides a pure wellbeing moment in the heart of Paris.

The chairs designed for the rooms include two different size and four different tones: turquoise, yellow, blue and violet. Recalling organic and vegetal shapes such as rose petal or flower, their design embody movement and lightness and pay tribute to nature.

With their rounded shapes and refined materials, the seats add softness and comfort to the hotel.

Ultralight and flexible, the chairs match perfectly with the hotel guest’s need : their small size is ideal to combine work and well-being.

Even the two coffee tables created for the rooms can echo to nature. Refined and rounded, they remind freshness and brightness of spring, and are harmoniously integrated the to interior design concept.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced that the 518-room Holiday Inn Resort® Montego Bay hotel has completed a $15 million renovation funded by ownership. The resort now features fully updated guest rooms, an ocean-view lobby with an open design and four restaurants offering a variety of cuisines including seafood, Japanese, Caribbean and Italian. The resort boasts 107 junior suites, 26 one-bedroom suites and five meeting rooms able to hold up to 1,550 people. The property also has 10 spacious KidSuites® which offer a kid-friendly design that allows children and adults to have their own space in the suite. Located on a half mile of private beach, the property also has its own private off-shore island called “Tek-It-Easy Island.” For guests looking to spend an afternoon off of the beach or out of the sun, the resort offers a game room and arcade, four tennis courts and a nine-hole mini golf course, also available for night play. While children enjoy a variety of staff-supervised activities as part of the Kid’s Club, which operates seven days per week, adults can take advantage of the property’s casino as well as various relaxing pubs and stylish lounges.

The resort is proud to be an IHG Green Engage™ hotel and offers unique programs to ensure sustainability. Throughout the property, there are water saving flush systems in the restrooms, waste treatment and re-use for on-site gardening as well as low energy lightbulbs on timing systems. Guests can also elect to participate in water conservation and paper recycling during their visit.

The Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay hotel is owned by Octagon Hotels Limited and managed by East Bay Management Company.

The Verbier Mirror and matching Verbier Console Table from GALLERY DIRECT will add an elegant touch to most rooms. The beautiful rectangular mirror and striking console table feature geometric mirror shapes in a painted gold finish.

They are both part of the exciting new Gallery Home collection.

+44 (0) 17 95 43 91 59
Click here to contact Gallery Direct: http://www.gallerydirect.co.uk

How USB charging is providing United Airlines with an Edge

Convenience is a gift bestowed by technology. It is readily offered by the smartphone, generously granted by the tablet, and amply provided by the digital camera. These labour saving devices have ushered in an age where convenience is no longer seen as a privilege, it is seen as a right. However, the modern traveller often faces an inherent conundrum when it comes time to charging their devices on the go. Where do I plug in?

Hello USB!
United Airlines have provided an answer in their newly completed VIP lounges – the United Global First Lounge and the United Club – at London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal.

The Architect, Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) approached the project as a hospitality assignment, creating unique and comfortable spaces designed to make customers feel at home while travelling.

Together, the two lounges occupy 22,000 square feet (2,043 square meters) of space and are located near the airline’s gates in Terminal 2’s satellite concourse. Both facilities feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the airfield, luxurious décor and vintage aviation-themed artwork. Both will also offer complimentary food, drinks, Wi-Fi and ample USB charging outlets, 168 from MK Electric’s Edge range to be exact.

This means that the weary VIP traveller need not look far to charge any number of their mobile devices, which could be up to at least three or more according to a recent Smart Brief poll.

New Luxury at Terminal 2
Designers and architects are fast adopting the term ‘new luxury’, which requires that design and art create special feelings, experiences and memories for clients. This differs from ‘old luxury’ which focused on the products themselves, leveraging expensive brand names and high-end materials.

This can especially be seen in the United Global First Lounge which is intended for first class passengers travelling with any Star Alliance carrier. Features in the lounge include an oversized Big Ben-style clock in its tea lounge section, a buffet area, a wine room, private phone booths and a quiet zone with sofas and privacy drapes.

This shift to ‘new luxury’ has ultimately meant that the electrical accessories sector must now create products that have the ability to respond, complement and enhance the overall look and feel of any given room.

Charging With an Edge
“The new lounges set the scene for opulence and a VIP experience, which is why 3DReid and SCB turned to MK Electric’s Edge range to meet expectations, said Nadine Deery, Channel Marketing Manager, MK Electric. “ The faceplates were finished in Desert Bronze to match the luxurious look and feel United Airlines wanted to create for their customers”.

This specific range combines both function and style with smooth, clean and very slim – in fact just 1.5mm thick – products. The range also provides MK’s 3-pin operated safety shutter system, which prevents misuse and unsafe access to live circuitry, providing travellers with peace of mind and comfort.

“MK Electric were able to facilitate United Airlines requirements to have both US and UK power sockets within the lounge and in a variety of finishes to match skirting and furniture trims – bronze in the United First lounge and chrome in the United Club”, said Felicity Hurling, from 3DReid.

“Given the number of passengers that wish to charge devices such as mobiles and laptops whilst in the lounge, it was also important that MK Electric were able to provide USB charging units that were able to be aesthetically integrated into bespoke handmade furniture within tight programme requirements”.

Deloitte’s president of Travel, Hospitality and Leisure, Adam Weissenberg, has outlined the need for companies in the sector to leverage the power of technology to improve customer experience and the travel and hospitality industry need to take note.

The USB charging module holds a simple but powerful advantage for all travellers looking to find a little comfort while travelling. It could offer a useful lifeline for those trying to make a last phone call to a loved one to help quell pre-flight jitters or simply relax knowing that when they reach their final destination they will be charged up and ready to hit the ground running.

To contact MK Electric, please visit their website: www.mkelectric.com

‘What could be simpler, SPAshell™’
For more a detailed discussion, full business presentation contact: alistair@spashell.com or call ++ 44 (0) 118 947 1857

Element Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. eco-innovation lab, has recently announced a collaboration with Sistine Solar, Inc.— a company that uses innovative design to change the way the world thinks about solar power — to produce a one-of-a-kind solar canopy for the Element brand. Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport will début a nature-themed, custom designed charging station that allows guests and locals to relax as they recharge their devices through the power of sunlight. A recognized industry leader in the eco-space, Element offers travellers a fresh, re-imagined extended stay hotel experience. This collaboration is a continued proof point of the brand’s commitment to sustainability and eco-design, further demonstrating how sustainability and socialization can go hand in hand. Just as Element has redefined the extended stay category through its contemporary design philosophy and eco-minded sensibilities, Sistine has transformed the bland, familiar aesthetic (think: boring black and blue grid) of solar technology. By using techniques from a wide range of disciplines – including mosaic art, solar photovoltaics, and optics – Sistine has developed SolarSkin, a patent-pending technology to create high-efficiency solar panels of any design, pattern or color. The one-of-a-kind solar canopy at Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport is inspired by the Element brand ethos that modern design flows from nature. Its unique design proves that green can, and should be, gorgeous.

Built as an off-grid installation, the unique Solar Canopy charging station, designed in partnership with Brooklyn-based architect, Ajmal Aqtash, will allow guests to sit in the shade, socialize and relax outside of the hotel as they recharge their personal electronic devices by harnessing the power of the sun. Additionally, the canopy has integrated LEDs that allow for nighttime illumination and enjoyment. As the panels absorb sunlight, solar energy converts the light into electricity, which guests can then use to charge their devices.

“We strongly believe in the transformative power of design,” commented Ido Salama, Co-Founder of Sistine Solar. “In working with a forward-thinking and powerful brand like Element, we see a tremendous opportunity to radically change people’s perceptions of renewable energy. Instead of hiding panels where no one will see them, as is often the case, we design our panels to be admired from up-close and from afar. We marry form and function to produce a one-of-a-kind guest experience – the magic happens the moment a guest plugs in their device, admires the beautiful nature-inspired design, and makes the connection that our sun is providing clean and renewable energy. In this way, we hope people will begin to see sustainability in a new light, accelerating the adoption of clean energy.”

As Starwood’s eco-innovation lab, Element is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. Offering bright, modern design and sustainable-minded sensibilities, Element Hotels are meant to fuel a life of balance while on the road, particularly when travelling for extended periods of time. The brand is a leader in the eco-innovation space and continues to pilot latest developments in sustainable technology. The solar canopy is currently at Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport North with plans to expand globally to Element’s nearly 20 hotels around the world.

YHA (England and Wales) is making the most of its fabulous locations and has invested £1 million in camping, glamping and cabin facilities at 63 of its Youth Hostels.

Already known for its 160-strong network of Youth Hostels across England and Wales, the investment in camping and cabin facilities is designed to make YHA even more accessible to people and capitalise further on the increase in Staycations in the UK.According to Visit England, foreign trips and holidays are 16% lower than they were before the recession and there has been a 15% increase* in families taking glamping holidays over the last year.

Last year the camping pods in the grounds of YHA South Downs were endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen who toured them as part of a visit to the £5 million Youth Hostel.

As well as camping pods, YHA offers an unrivalled range of alternative accommodation at its properties, including:

Cabins
Six-sided timber cabins available at YHA Canterbury and YHA Hawkshead that evoke images of The Shire. These fully insulated cabins sleep 4 – 5 people and boast double glazed windows, a double bed with a single over the top and a set of bunk beds. The cabin at YHA Canterbury even comes in a deluxe en suite bathroom option. Prices from £75.00 per night.

Camping Pods
Available at 7 locations, YHA’s camping pods sleep up to 4 adults and boast electrical sockets, radiators, and a small decking area for disposable BBQs. For true camping luxury, however, the Large Pod Deluxe comes with bedding, a wet room with WC and shower, double bed and double sofa bed as well as a kitchenette area with fridge, sink, kettle, crockery and microwave. Prices from £45.00 per night.

Huts
Camping huts are caravan-like shelters that offer a real back-to-nature experience. They provide cosy but remote accommodation for up to 7 people at two YHA locations. Although basic, the traditional wooden structures boast mod-cons like electric lighting and heating as well as table and chairs to plan your next day’s adventures. Prices from £36.00 per night.

Camping
Camping facilities are available at 31 YHAs across England and Wales. Families can pitch up their tent in the hostel grounds and reap all the benefits of the Youth Hostel facilities. Prices from £10.00 per night.

Glamping
Perfect for families who like camping but don’t like roughing it, YHA’s solar powered luxury bell tents are available at six YHAs in the South West. The bell tents come fully kitted out with bedding and are furnished with basics like bean bags, a double bed with three singles; perfect for a comfortable night’s sleep under the stars. Prices from £70.00 per night.

Camping Barns
YHA’s camping barns or ‘stone tents’, offer a more substantial shelter from the elements than a tent. Families and large groups can enjoy the remote, minimal nature of camping but under a sturdy roof at 18 locations across England and Wales. Prices from £8.00 per night.

Caroline White, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales), said: “We have so many properties with great outdoor space, acres in some instances, that it made absolute sense to utilise this to entice more people to stay with and experience YHA. We acknowledge that not everyone wants a home from home experience when on holiday, however guests who choose to camp or ‘glamp’ with YHA have access to our great self-catering facilities, bars, cafes, restaurants and indoor communal areas should the weather be truly awful.”

Since 2010 YHA (England and Wales) has invested £31 million in its network to create comfortable, contemporary-styled accommodation. Today’s Youth Hostels boast licensed bars and restaurants, and more private en suite rooms. The new-look YHA network, together with the investment in camping and cabin facilities, means YHA is now appealing to a new generation of traveller and holiday maker.

Recent sales figures for the 85-year-old charity show that 2014 was its best year ever. Occupancy across YHA’s 160-strong network was up 3.5% yielding an 8.1% growth in accommodation income and smashing the charity’s budgeted revenue increase by 200% and earning it a number of industry awards.

Caroline White added: “The capital investment programme at YHA has left the network virtually unrecognisable. Key to dispelling myths about Youth Hostels in the 21st century is getting people through the door or into their grounds to see how fantastic they are.”

To take a virtual tour of a modern YHA Youth Hostel visit www.yha.org.uk/hostel-virtual-tours

To find out more about YHA’s Cabins and Camping, visit: http://www.yha.org.uk/places-to-stay/camping-and-cabins

Majestic in appearance, sophisticated in design and peerless in pedigree, The Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo marks the return of an icon to the Egyptian capital. The historic property will reopen under Ritz-Carlton’s stewardship in late summer, heralding a new era of luxury hospitality in the heart of Cairo.The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo will open in the late summer of this year. The hotel is undergoing a complete renovation whilst retaining many of the original features, reminding guests of the cherished memories of days gone by, yet well-prepared to host a new generation of guests with a desire to uncover the mystique of the historic city. With the hotel nearing the handover stage, finishing touches will be made on its extensive renovation and with the help of Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ritz-Carlton, its rich culture of service in the hotel’s famed premises will be established.

Centred between the Nile and Tahrir Square, the hotel is easily accessible from Cairo’s key attractions and landmarks including the Arab League Headquarters and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, home to the King Tut exhibition. In addition, the nearby Qasr El Nile Bridge links the hotel to the magnificent Cairo Opera House, a unique landmark of aesthetic and cultural interest in Egypt.

The hotel’s palatial proportions allow visitors to enjoy a sense of exclusivity and spaciousness, while appreciating the location in the heart of the city. The 331-room hotel houses ultramodern facilities including a spectacular Olympic-size pool with 17 private cabanas. The accommodations and interiors, all designed by eminent interior designer Frank Nicholson – a long-standing collaborator of the brand -are reminiscent of the timeless style of Ritz-Carlton properties around the globe whilst being anchored in the flavours and traditions of Egypt. In particular, the 50 exquisitely laid-out suites, including the elite Royal and Presidential suites, feature spectacular Nile views and offer an elevated sense of luxury.

With its celebrated attention to detail and expansive facilities, the hotel encourages the leisure and business traveller to be assured of seamless service and a relaxed stay. Guests can unwind in the spa, which offers a plethora of treatments to work or travel weary guests, including the signature Rasul therapy. Guests can cap their wellness journey with a sunset yoga session on the spa terrace overlooking the Nile.

The hotel’s meetings and conference facilities include the Alf Leila wa Leila Ballroom, another original feature of the hotel, ideal for weddings of a grand scale. In addition, a new conference centre offers avant-garde conference spaces including a 1,700 square meter conference hall.

Gastronomes visiting Egypt will also be spoilt for choice with an array of dining venues. With innovative and cutting edge fare spanning Arabian, Italian and Continental cuisine, complemented by gorgeous views and appealing ambience, the hotel’s dining venues are set to be a culinary revelation for the city’s residents and visitors.

Eurasia… Caucasus…Azerbaijan – throughout the world, myths, legends and facts about Fire are often lost in the smoke of Time and History… only to be mixed, edited and retold for new generations.

In Azerbaijan, fire has shaped the culinary and cultural landscapes for centuries: whether hunting dragons like the hero Bayram Gur, burning natural gas vents at the Zoroastrian Ateshga, collecting embers at Yanar Dag, preparing smoky tea samovar with coals or grilling aromatic kebabs. Today, the memory of this vast shared heritage of fire has been assembled in the city of Baku at the JW Marriott Absheron and re-imagined as “FIREWORKS”, a dining destination for the 21st Century, created by the acclaimed international restaurant designer Henry Chebaane and his team from Blue Sky Hospitality studio. A place high in symbolism, aesthetic drama, kinetic stimulations and taste sensations: fireworks for the senses!

Guarding and protecting the guests at the entrance is an imposing life-size wild bull cast in shimmering molten bronze, celebrating the raw power of fire and sheer life energy that it enables, providing mankind with a warm home and tasty steaks.

Also at the entrance are two dragon skulls: one male and one female represent the mythology of fire: opposite but complementary natural forces (yin/yang, heat/oxygen) that starts fire and sustain the full life cycle on Earth.

“FIREWORKS” is entered via a ceremonial canopy of glowing metal rods, translucent bricks and wooden blocks symbolising the ritualistic elements of grilling and roasting with live fire. These elements are repeated throughout the space on walls and ceilings in different compositions of light, shadow and textures imbuing the whole dining space with a distinctive halo of comforting warmth and sophisticated drama.

The fireworks canopy acting as an inverted red carpet leads guests onto an experiential discovery of the features and facilities to try: the Private Dining Room, the Fireworks kitchen, the Whisky & Brandy library and the Wine bar, itself part of the dramatic dining area and finally the large outdoor terrace with its wide fire bowls, interactive display kitchen and commanding views over the city.

“Born of fire” is an exclusive piece of 4-Dimensional conceptual art that covers most of the ceiling above the dining area. Inspired by the legend of Prometheus bringing the original fire to mankind from the Caucasus mountains, it is a composition of several hundreds walnut bricks. The surface area is cracked open by a massive lighting bolt, revealing a metalised glass surface that softly glows in a myriad of red and amber tones, evolving throughout the day and night.

Caucasian walnut and European oak are used for all furniture, carpentry and floors combined with full aniline leather upholstery in various tones of burnt earth, recalling the pigments used in classical paintings and wool-dyeing for local rugs.

The multi-cultural restaurant team provides a confident, friendly, intuitive and knowledgeable service that is fast, competent and informal.

The culinary team, also multi-cultural produce a menu that is easy to remember and execute, quick to prepare and deliver, with some dishes starting at prices attractive to a relatively wide audience and others that provide status-affirming opportunities.

Land of fire – kitchen works – urban style: experience it all at Fireworks Urban Kitchen.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has announced its newest hotel in the UK – Hilton at The Ageas Bowl Southampton which officially opened yesterday, 14th May 2015.Featuring stunning architecture and design, the 171-guestroom property overlooks The Ageas Bowl cricket ground. The hotel introduces a range of dining options including the Spa Café, the Lakeview Sports Bar and all-day dining restaurant BEEFY’S, serving English cuisine, and providing a relaxing setting for business lunches, sport breaks, drinks or special events.

Hilton at The Ageas Bowl Southampton is an impressive venue for corporate events or grand banquets, offering eight meeting rooms and the largest ballroom in the region with more than 1,500 square meters of event space, hosting up to 700 people. The hotel also provides an Executive Lounge, along with a 24-hour business center offering a variety of amenities and services to help guests stay connected during their stay.

The UK’s first Hilton eforea spa including eight treatment rooms, spa pool, salon, nail bar and restaurant, offers guests personalised, transformative journeys to help invigorate, relax and revitalise. To keep energised, guests can visit the hotel’s fitness room or the adjacent Hampshire Tennis Club, which also features indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Design is by EPR Architects
Bedroom casegoods by Curtis Furniture & Doors

The Sanderson range of cushions reflect the elegant colour palette and classic English design that distinguish Sanderson’s exquisite wallcoverings and fabrics.Sanderson Cushions offer the perfect finishing touch for any interior. Inspired by signature designs from the Sanderson fabric and wallpaper range, each print has been specifically designed for cushions.

Carefully curated from the Aegean, Voyage of Discovery, Fabienne and Vintage 2 collections, nine statement digitally printed cushions are complemented by eight sumptuous velvet jewel toned Icaria cushions.

Adding an element of fun are eight Little Sanderson cushions. Four whimsical, yet educational designs from the Abracazoo collection have been created into an adorable capsule range of cushions for the little people in your life.

Click here to contact Sanderson via their website: www.sanderson-uk.com

Fresh on the heels of announcing an unprecedented joint venture (JV) hotel management company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dusit International confirms the first two projects of the newly established JV company that are now underway.The collaboration between Dusit and local partners Dyar Hotels and Resorts is off to a strong start, now that the Dusit Thani Jeddah and dusitD2 Salwa Doha (Qatar) hotels have been confirmed.

Scheduled to open in 2018 in the Kingdom’s second largest city, the Dusit Thani Jeddah will come under Dusit’s original upper-upscale hotel brand Dusit Thani, most well-known for providing its legendary gracious hospitality to guests worldwide. The hotel will offer 211 guest rooms, including 38 suites and one Royal Suite. Dining options will range from a coffee shop to all-day dining and specialty restaurants.

Business travellers will be well catered for with an Executive Lounge, business centre and multi-purpose hall to suit various meeting and event needs. Additionally, a dedicated floor for female guests, separate male and female spas and a swimming pool will ensure guests have a thoroughly comfortable stay.
With a convenient location on the city’s main arterial road, just 2.5 kilometres from the upcoming mixed-use Jeddah Gate development, the Dusit Thani Jeddah will be within easy reach of both midtown and the Corniche.

In neighbouring Qatar, the dusitD2 Salwa is also slated to open in 2018. It will come under Dusit’s chic and contemporary “next generation” dusitD2 brand, offering 240 guest rooms including 28 suites. Operated in a Shariah-compliant manner, the two specialty restaurants, an all-day dining option, 2 wedding halls, 10 meeting rooms, a swimming pool and spa will provide facilities and services to suit all leisure and business travellers.

The dusitD2 Salwa will be located right in the heart of Doha, just minutes away from tourist attractions such as the Doha Fort, Souq Waquif and the Qatar National Museum. This ideal location also means the hotel will be only 5 kilometres away from the Doha International Airport and 10 kilometres away from the new Hamad International Airport.

Aside from these projects, a further five properties are currently under negotiation by the JV company in the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah. Together, these cities form the largest tourism market within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and present a host of opportunities for the growing company.

“We are thrilled to move ahead on these two exciting projects which set solid foundations for the JV,” said Mr Andrew Shaw, Director of Development – Europe, Middle East and Africa of Dusit International. “We are confident that with the support of our partners at Dyar Hotels and Resorts, who have over 30 years of local expertise, we will succeed in bringing completely unique products to the market, marrying our hallmark gracious Thai hospitality with local customs and traditions.”

For hospitality environments looking for sophisticated natural look carpets with the durability to withstand commercial use, the new Jaudon woven two-tone loop pile from Lano Flooring Solutions provides the answer. Using a Wilton construction for quality and durability, Jaudon makes the most of Lano Flooring Solutions’ three-ply yarn that delivers exceptional resilience and definition for better design clarity. A high-performance 80% wool 20% polyamide blend gives excellent appearance retention, important for less heavily patterned carpets such as this.

“Many hospitality environments want to move away from strong patterns towards designs with a more natural feel and Jaudon lets them do this, with all the security and quality of woven wool carpet designed for commercial use,” explains Birger Karlsson, UK sales director.

Available in three designs – a pindot, houndstooth and diamond pindot – in a range of deep naturals, grey and charcoal tonal combinations, the Jaudon collection is ideal for use in hospitality bedrooms and with its General Commercial rating, for general use in smaller locations such as boutique hotels and B&Bs. Jaudon is also available in a custom design for larger projects.

For further information, freephone 00800 5266 5266, www.lano.com

New and ultra stylish Kata Rocks hotel is a true game changer for luxury tourism. Sleek and chic, offering a minimalist vibe, this magnificent hotel is unlike anything else in Thailand, including extraordinary and spellbinding views of the Andaman Sea. Set on a spectacular panoramic location, Kata Rocks offers a superb spa, design-led apartment sized rooms including spa suites, all with private infinity pools. Located near Kata, a clean-cut resort town, this hotel has fast established itself as the hot destination for the affluent yachting crowd.

With 34 one, two, three and four-bedroom Sky Villas stacked across the hillside – these are big, bright and beautiful, and come with fully-fitted kitchens, living and dining areas. There are also floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening onto private infinity pools, each of which is a minimum of seven-metres long. The furnishings are sleek and Italian-made, here it’s all white-on white: there are white linens, and white umbrellas shading white sunbeds beside a white-tiled pool.

There is also an oceanfront restaurant, 35-metre swimming pool with poolside bar, a sublime Infinite Luxury Spa housing everything from energy pods to light-emitting treatment beds, which combine beautifully with Ila products and traditional Thai wellness philosophies.

With their own private infinity pools, each Sky Villa is designed to impart an unparalleled sense of space and tranquillity, creating a sense of harmony and balance with its lush tropical surroundings. Kata Rocks has already collected prestigious design accolades in the International Property Awards, competing against projects from over one-hundred countries around the world. Each of the villas is privately owned, but managed by Infinite Luxury on behalf of the owners.

Kata Rocks developer and operator Infinite Luxury is a construction and residential development company founded for over 20 years in London’s fashionable Notting Hill. This is their first luxury resort property and the first of several new resort projects planned.

With spring in full bloom, GALLERY DIRECT’s Isabella Quilt Cover Set from their Gallery Home soft furnishings collection is perfect for brightening up any bedroom. This beautifully vibrant oversized watercolour floral bed linen set with coloured piping is made from 100% cotton sateen.

The set is available in 4 sizes along with matching housewife pillowcases.

+44 (0) 17 95 43 91 59
Click here to contact Gallery Direct: http://www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Jumeirah Group has unveiled the name for Jumeirah’s new hotel at Madinat Jumeirah, scheduled to open during 2016: it will be known as Jumeirah Al Naseem.The name ‘Al Naseem’, which means a gentle wind or sea breeze in Arabic, reflects the location of the hotel on the shoreline of the Arabian Gulf and the open aspect of its design.

Jumeirah Al Naseem will have 430 luxurious rooms and suites, complete with walk-in rain showers, floor-to-ceiling windows and private outdoor terraces. The hotel is set among lush, landscaped gardens and offers three large swimming pools, as well as private beach access. Two banqueting rooms, each measuring 75 square metres, will complement the existing conference and events facilities at Madinat Jumeirah.

Guests will have access to the Madinat Theatre, the resort’s waterways serviced by traditional wooden abra boats, a kids club and over 50 restaurants and bars at Souk Madinat Jumeirah; as well as the award-winning Talise Spa, watersports and Wild Wadi Waterpark.

Jumeirah Al Naseem promises a modern-day Arabian experience, sitting alongside the palatial elegance of Jumeirah Al Qasr, the calm sophistication of Jumeirah Mina A’Salam and the discrete charm of Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf, the exquisite summerhouses that were recently listed by Tripadvisor as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the World. Jumeirah Al Naseem is located next to Jumeirah Mina A’Salam on the city’s longest private beach, looking out over Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Following the tenth anniversary of Madinat Jumeirah, the opening of the new hotel in 2016 will mark the completion of one of the world’s finest luxury resorts.

Raising the standard in guest service and luxury accommodations yet again, Bellagio recently completed the remodel of the final 403 suites in the resort’s main tower. This marks the conclusion of an approximately $165 million remodel that began in 2011 and encompassed all 3,933 of the resort’s rooms and suites.“Our team has developed an incredible collection of newly redesigned rooms and suites, each meant to create an elevated and memorable guest experience,” said Randy Morton, president and COO of Bellagio. “We are excited to unveil these new accommodations and look forward to welcoming new and loyal guests from around the world.”

Created by the MGM Resorts International Design Group, the Bellagio Tower’s redesigned suites offer refined furnishings with high-style surfaces such as lacquer and exotic wood graining as well as sumptuous fabrics influenced by modern fashion. Key design elements and color themes are consistent with the remodeled suites in the Spa Tower, along with a new color palette of spring greens and Dragonfruit pink meant to promote rejuvenation of the spirit.

March Highlights
• Average rates fall in Dubai but rise in Abu Dhabi
• Beirut and Sharm El Sheikh hotels witness a boost in occupancy on the back of strong demand
• Revenues up but profits down in Doha hotels

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is to open The St. Regis Langkawi in November 2015. The hotel is situated within an idyllic cove with 85 well-appointed suites and 3 water villas, each boasting a spectacular view of the Straits of Malacca. Each guestroom will also feature the signature St. Regis Butler Service. Trained in the English tradition, St. Regis butlers provide discerning guests with around-the-clock customised services, anticipating each guest’s every need. The hotel is close to Kuah town, Langkawi’s shopping and commercial centre, and is approximately a 20-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport.Owned by Integrated Nautical Resort Sdn Bhd (INR), the resort is a joint-venture between Rajawali Group, Malaysia Ministry of Finance and Langkawi Development Authority.

A myriad of culinary experiences, with five food and beverage venues, will keep up with the rich heritage and legacy of the St. Regis brand. The resort’s signature bar will serve the legendary Bloody Mary cocktail, born at the flagship St. Regis New York hotel in the early 1900s. The resort will also create a local version of the Bloody Mary, a tradition that every St. Regis around the world cherishes.

Guests at The St. Regis Langkawi will also be able to indulge in a range of luxurious specialty massages and well-being treatments, crafted to pamper and allure their weary senses in a tranquil and private Spa Salon. Other resort amenities will include a swimming pool, gym and function space, with access to expanded meeting facilities at the ultra-modern Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC).

The property is one kilometre from a new integrated coastal development, which encompasses the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC), an extensive, 6,100 square metres meeting and conference venue. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities amidst luxurious surroundings, LICC recently hosted high profile functions, including the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting in March 2015 and the ASEAN Leaders Summit this April. With its largest meeting area boasting 1,600 square metres of space, LICC is ready to raise the bar on Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) in the region.

The integrated coastal development also offers existing and new facilities that complement LICC’s services, enhancing visitors’ lifestyle experiences in Langkawi. These include the Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, a high end retail hub, improved landscaping of Eagle Square Park and much more.

The distinctive elegance of the Screw table lamp makes it one of the signature fittings from Chelsom’s latest collection, a true statement piece ideal for public areas and prestigious guestrooms. Understated in terms of its design, the beauty of the lamp comes from the handmade ceramic corkscrew shaped base as inspired by the current trend of working geometric shapes in to product design. The uniqueness of the piece is further emphasised by the specialised bronze metallic lustre glaze hand applied for each individual fitting.

Screw is offered in two standard glaze finishes including high gloss Bronze metallic as pictured and gloss White although a wide number of special glaze finishes can be made to order on request.

01253 831401
Chelsom.co.uk

Luxury boutique hotel Flemings Mayfair is investing £14 million in an impressive refurbishment plan, which will see 129 new-look bedrooms, suites and apartments, alongside a new tea lounge, an intimate, sophisticated bar and brand new restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Shaun Rankin. Work began last year on the family-owned leading SLH (Small Luxury Hotels of the World) and is due for completion in the first quarter of 2016. The hotel remains fully operational during this exciting time.Bedrooms, Suites, Apartments, Penthouse & Townhouse
The first phase of the refurbishment project is now nearing completion, which will transform 40 of its bedrooms and suites and its ten Mayfair apartments, each with individual themes and fabulous attention to detail. A selection of bedrooms, junior suites and studio suites as well as one, two and three-bed apartments – most of which benefit from a private entrance on Clarges Street or in the case of the Townhouse, a private entrance on Half Moon Street – will be finalised in June.

Interior designers Tully Filmer took inspiration from the heritage of the hotel, returning the bedrooms to their generous Georgian splendour with three metre high ceilings and period features. The elegant bedrooms are decorated with a nod to the glamorous 1930’s, with shades of bronze and soft greys, along with bespoke furniture designed in silver stained fiddle-back Sycamore. The feel of each bedroom is serenely calm and restful with timeless detailing and quiet luxury.

Celebrity artwork from renowned photographer Andy Gotts MBE, who has shot the likes of Harrison Ford, Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue and Robert De Niro, adorn the bedroom walls. Many of these pictures were taken at Flemings over the past six months and form part of its new private collection.

Adding to the opulent feel of the suites, guests will be able to enjoy their own complimentary gin bar. Designed in conjunction with spirits experts and celebrated authors Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley, those wishing to unwind can choose from five gins, including Flemings’ own signature blend, created in collaboration with Shaun Rankin, and all located within specially designed gin cabinets.

For the ultimate break, book the top floor penthouse suite, which sleeps six, and includes use of a private lift and roof terrace – great for secluded outdoor entertaining or al-fresco drinks and dining.

The stunning Townhouse on Half Moon Street comprises seven beautifully appointed bedrooms, which can be either booked individually as suites or entirely as a whole property.

The Drawing Room – a modern interpretation on a traditional Georgian Drawing room – created in conjunction with The East India Company, offers guests an elegant Indian-inspired space to enjoy traditional and exotic teas. The 30-cover space boasts hand-painted De Gournay wall panels and a library stocked with books from Assouline.

New for 2016
The second phase of the development will commence in January 2016 and is set to see the remaining hotel rooms revamped alongside the complete refurbishment of the bar and restaurant areas. During this stage the hotel will again remain fully operational.

New Bar & Restaurant by Executive Chef Shaun Rankin
March 2016 will see the opening of a new bar & restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Shaun Rankin, who will join Flemings Mayfair as Executive Chef. Shaun has been Jersey-based for twenty years and has held a Michelin star for 11 years, with Bohemia and now his own Jersey restaurant, Ormer. He is highly-acclaimed and is one of the original Great British Chefs. His new venture with Flemings Hotel will run alongside his current Jersey restaurant and he will be a great addition to the Flemings family.

Originally opened in 1851 and converted from 13 Georgian townhouses, award-winning hotel Flemings Mayfair offers unrivalled luxury accommodation in one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods – just steps away from Green Park, Piccadilly and a short walk from Buckingham Palace.

Perhaps you’ve read reviews on Trip Advisor saying your hotel bedrooms need an upgrade, or maybe your hotel lobby area is looking more 1915 than 2015? You know it’s time for that hotel refurbishment you’ve been thinking about, but you’re not completely sure where to start. Approaching and planning a hotel furniture refurbishment project can be a daunting task. For many interior designers and architects it’s a full time job… yet, if you’re an independent hotel owner or manager, you might be about to embark on a hotel refurbishment project on top of your already demanding job.

Who are Curtis Furniture?
Curtis are a specialist hotel furniture and doors supplier with over 15 years of experience in planning and managing hotel refurbishment projects and fit-outs for hotels across the UK. This experience means we’re well qualified to offer advice on preparing for your next project. Find out more about Curtis

What to consider before a hotel refurbishment

Step one
At the outset, the key questions are:
• What areas of your hotel need to be refurbished? The bedrooms, the restaurant, the bar?
• What is your budget?
• If you can’t stretch to everything straightaway, which areas of your hotel will take priority?
• Is there a particular event or peak holiday season you’d like the refurbishment to be completed by – or a quiet period when the project would cause minimum disruption to your guests and minimise the financial impact of having rooms offline?

Step two
The next step is to think about your preferred design style – and the star rating you need to maintain or are striving for:
• Are you aiming for 3*, 4* or 5*?
• Is it a boutique room design you’re looking for – or perhaps a stylish, functional space for the business traveller?
• What are the best room layouts and pieces of furniture to maximise your let-able space?
• You might also think about whether to employ a hotel interior designer or architect, depending on the size and scope of the project – or if you can manage it on your own.

Once you’ve started to think about these questions, it’s time to find the right supplier or suppliers.

How Curtis Furniture can help you

Curtis works with hotel owners, managers and interior designers to deliver beautiful hotel interiors. We aim to provide as much or as little support as our clients want or need. This includes helping to:
• Plan your room layouts – to create an impact and maximise your space
• ‘Get the best bang for your buck’ by recommending different finish and fabric options
• Choose the right style of furniture to create the look you want
• Plan your project to help ensure it misses your peak occupancy periods
• Consider the factors that will help to achieve a 3, 4 or 5 star rating
• Plus, we can recommend an interior designer or architect should you need one.

Curtis Furniture & Doors manufactures hotel bedroom case goods, internal and external doors, public area furniture, chairs and tables. We also supply other complementary products, including an exclusive range of sofas and sofa beds in partnership with DFS Contract. See our product range.

Contact Curtis
Whether you’re just at the ideas stage or you have a clear picture of your requirements, call 0113 248 0605 or enquire online – and request a free refurbishment consultation at your hotel.

Follow us on Twitter: @CURTISFURNITURE
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com

These useful tips have been provided by Gareth Brett, board director. Curtis are hotel furniture & doors specialists – and a leading UK manufacturer of hotel bedroom case goods.

Celebrating 15 years, St Martins Lane, Morgans Hotel Group Co.’s first European hotel, has revealed a fresh new contemporary design and updated public spaces to mark the milestone anniversary. With renewed emphasis on comfort and simplicity across its 204 guestrooms, St Martins Lane’s recently completed renovation also includes a revitalization of its acclaimed in-house restaurant, Asia de Cuba, with a tantalizing new menu under Cuban-born executive chef Luis Pous, as well as the launch of London’s newest late night cocktail lounge, Blind Spot.

Situated in London’s theatre district at the heart of Covent Garden, Blind Spot is an intimate urban escape that has been beautifully conceived by renowned interior designer Tim Andreas of Banjo Ad Inc. Andreas has paid homage to Philippe Starck, St Martins Lane’s original designer, and his original ethos by blurring the lines between baroque and minimalist, extravagance and simplicity.

Guests can begin their journey in the Den, a modern gathering place situated just off the lobby. The décor is warm and sophisticated, with a tongue-in-cheek British flair. The art on the walls animates the space with larger-than-life portraits and visual puns. The Den is ideally suited to relaxing with a cup of tea or champagne before embarking into the heart of London, and serves a selection of hot and cold snacks throughout the day including toasted English crumpets, Cuban style sandwiches with BBQ pork and charcuterie and devilled eggs.

Asia de Cuba, a Chino-Latino fusion restaurant with an established reputation for delicious and unexpected cuisine, has been restyled to reflect an exciting new menu curated by Chef Luis Pous. Chic, sophisticated, and glamorous, Asia de Cuba lets the food do the talking with dishes that are intensely flavored, imaginatively prepared and ultimately celebratory – all served in a high-energy environment.

The new décor evokes the senses of Havana – home to one of Latin America’s oldest and largest Chinatown neighbourhoods. The new menu at Asia de Cuba represents Chef Pous’ interpretation of what Asian-influenced Cuban food would be today if Cubans had been able to innovate and evolve their cuisine over the past 50 years.

For an innovative cocktail experience, as the sun sets, guests can slip behind the lobby’s curious tea counter and through a hidden doorway, to find themselves in Blind Spot, a golden cocktail lounge inspired by the world’s finest exotic teas. Tea made its journey from Asia to Great Britain in the 1660s, forever linking the continents and inspiring culinary palates. The link is expressed in every aspect of Blind Spot, from the colour scheme to the tastes.

Cocktail consultant Andrew Loudon, whose experience includes managing of-the-moment cocktail bar Satan’s Whiskers and the distinguished 69 Colebrooke Row, has devised a series of signature drinks, some of which blend teas with refreshing market ingredients, such as Camellia; a black tea vodka with Chambord, Aperol, lemon and raspberries, and Ora Negra; a Palo Cortado sherry with orange blossom water and Perrier Jouet.

Continued on page two…

The Mercury® DK1 and the DK1E lighting control kits from Hamilton present an ideal ‘out-of-the-box’ opportunity for electrical installers to exploit the growing trend towards a smarter home. Touch here to get started
Described as entry-level systems, both the DK1 and the DK1E kits contain everything needed to control one lighting circuit with the now standard ‘Touch Screen’ control plate. The DK1 kit is controlled using a wired touch screen plate, and the DK1E has built-in Ethernet and enables wireless control via iPad and iPhone using Hamilton’s downloadable APP, available on the APP Store.

Taking the first step to a smart home just got easier.
The customer benefits of installing a smart lighting control system are compelling: controlling ambiance and mood light levels at the touch of a button to enhance carefully planned living space; satisfying the insatiable appetite to remotely control all aspects of our homes/lives via an app, and of course the possible significant energy savings makes lighting control a natural choice.

Setting the scene
Everything about this smart lighting control solution just looks and feels right: simplicity is at the forefront of its design making it easy to install. Basic day-to-day lighting scenarios, from simple dimming to scene-setting programmes, can be set, stored and recalled – all at the touch of a button.

Start small and think big
The encased dimmer hub is straightforward to access and wire-in and for simple 4-channel applications can work ‘Out of the box’. For projects that require more circuits, say in a kitchen, lounge and dining room, the dimmer packs can be linked together and configured using simple dip switch settings – NO PROGRAMMING is required.

The finishing touch
Customers will love controlling their lighting via the touch screen controller, which comes in a white plastic plate finish as standard but can be upgraded at no extra cost to a metal finish from Hamilton’s Hartland CFX® or Sheer CFX® collections. The system can also be controlled by a handheld infra-red remote control.

Easy to set & store scenes with the touch of a button
When installing the Touch Screen controller, absolutely no commissioning work is required as the unit is pre-loaded with the necessary software. The process of setting the light scenes is not dissimilar to programming a car radio – simply hold your finger on the icon button until it locks in!

1. Set the desired light level using the circuit buttons: a brief press will turn the lights on/off, a prolonged press will raise/lower the light level
2. Press and hold down scene button 1.
3. The LED will flash five times.
4. Keep a finger on the scene button until the LED stops flashing and goes solid, then goes out.
5. Scene 1 is now stored.

In the DK1 kit box:
1 x MDP4x600+3AR Dimming Pack
1 x Touch Screen Control Plate
1 x Touch Screen Interface
1 x Infra-Red Remote Control

In the DK1E kit box:
1 x MDP4x600+3AR+E Dimming Pack – with built-in Ethernet for wireless control
1 x Touch Screen Control Plate
1 x Touch Screen Interface
1 x Infra-Red Remote Control

DK1 at a glance
• 4 channels each rated at 600W.
• One 3 amp volt free relay output (mains or LV).
• Touch Screen interface as standard.
• Simple to program scene setting (just push & hold).
• Compatible with LED lamps.
• Expandable system beyond lighting control e.g.audio, blinds, fans etc.
• DK1E option enables wireless control using Mercury® iOS APP, available on the APP Store.
• Option to replace standard white plastic control plate with a Hamilton metal plate from either the Hartland CFX® or Sheer CFX® ranges, at no extra cost.
• Conventional switch plates & sockets are also available in Hartland CFX® and Sheer CFX®, for a co-ordinated look!

For further information on the new Mercury® DK1 & DK1E Lighting Control Kits, please visit: www.hamilton-litestat.com or call +44 (0)1747 860088

The long awaited Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport Hotel opened its doors on the 8th of May. It comprises of 193 air-conditioned contemporary bedrooms featuring pocket sprung mattresses, high quality bedding, a choice of pillows, 32-inch HD TV’s, 1 meeting room, restaurant and bar offering all day dining menu, 251 car parking spaces. On top of this the operational hotel will create 50 new jobs. The hotel is located within a 5-minute walk through our linked covered walkway to Aberdeen International Airport and within easy reach to four key business parks – ABZ, D2, Aberdeen Gateway and Prime Four. The hotel is also conveniently located close to Dyce railway station and the city centre making it ideal for all business and leisure guests alike.

The restaurant & bar offers a friendly and warm ambience accompanied by quality food from our all day dining menu, serving national and international cuisine. Professional service ensures that diners are kept especially happy and the contemporary interior ensures a great dining experience.

Express start breakfast is included for every guest at the Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport. Guests can enjoy a delicious bacon bap, egg and cheese wraps, Moma’s Porridge and freshly brewed coffee. Continental style breakfast is also available including a great bakery selection, yoghurts and fruit which are all available to take should you wish.

The Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport Hotel is owned and operated by Dominvs Hospitality, who also own The Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport which is due to open late August 2015.

Property agents Colliers International seeks new owners for two unique Cotswold hotels.

Both properties offer potential buyers a solid investment opportunity, and are on the market for a combined sum of just under £1.8m.Located near the centre of the historic town Cirencester, The Old Bungalow guest house is on the market for £775,000. Current owners of the property are couple Garry and Hannah Smith; well known in the local area for having previously owned the Oddfellows pub on Chester Street at the heart of the town. The couple, who have both enjoyed a profitable self-run business, are now looking to continue their success in the local B&B industry.

With its seven en suite bedrooms, the property offers its new investors the option of running a low-key business as Garry and Hannah have, or the opportunity to accept one of many new letting opportunities which are turned down on a regular basis.

Constructed in the 1920s, the bungalow sits on a large plot overlooking a garden with ample parking to the front and to the rear of the property. Many original features – such as its pitch tile-covered roof and wide entrance hall – are still present throughout, complimented by a large breakfast room and conservatory lounge.

Finally, the property also offers its new owners their own separate accommodation – the substantial two-floored outbuilding holds a self-contained apartment which is located to the rear of the property.

The utterly charming Burford House is the second Cotswold property on the market, for a cool £1m. The eight bedroom hotel located at the heart of Burford’s High Street in Oxon is said to date back to the 16th Century, and is one of the most highly regarded small hotels in the area, having received the prestigious AA 5 Star Guest Accommodation Highly Commended award.

Having recently been refurbished, the hotel now enjoys a five-star standard throughout. It has eight bedrooms spread over its ground and upper two floors – all complete with luxurious, over-sized en-suite bathrooms.

The property offers many public areas, including a front sitting room overlooking the High Street, a Garden Room and a second lounge opening onto the rear courtyard, all furnished to a high standard. The Grade II listed building also includes a basement cellar.

Original features are maintained throughout the property – from wooden floors and a large stone surround fireplace to French windows to the rear of the building; the property is full of character.

Director of Hotels Agency at Colliers International’s Bristol office, Peter Brunt, said: “Situated at the heart of one of the Cotswold’s busiest towns, Burford House offers a wonderful opportunity for new investors. Trade in the town is almost completely made up of tourists, and sees visitors looking to enjoy the Tudor houses and ancient markets flocking to the town all year round.

“The Old Bungalow in Cirencester is another property with real marketability. The area is a thriving commercial centre, and as such the hotel is well-placed to achieve a consistently high level of occupancy.

“We have seen many properties in this area enjoy success on the market in recent years – properties that have recently sold nearby include the Highway Hotel and Burford Lodge; both are doing well in the hands of their new owners.

“Both of these properties offer a wonderful opportunity for investors looking to start a business in a beautiful part of the country with an enduring appeal to tourists and locals alike.”

Rockstars, fashionistas and superstars are all about to arrive at ibis hotels in the global hotel brand’s latest TV campaign ‘Everybody’s famous at ibis’ which has recently launched.

ibis hotels has launched a global advertising campaign that stylishly challenges the perceptions of the economy hotel brand. The new ad campaign is chic, humorous and entertaining and portrays ibis hotels in a new light, as the perfect fit for even the most glamorous personalities. Celebrities, rich, famous or not, everybody’s famous at ibis and every hotel offers the style, space and service to suit your lifestyle and let each guests be the star of their own stay.

The “Everybody’s famous at ibis” TVC, which launched in the UK on the 1st May across Channel 4 owned and partner channels, included spots on Alan Carr Chatty Man, Big Bang Theory, and the Island with Bear Grills. The campaign will support both brand and tactical activities all year long in the UK.

Commenting on the new campaign, Karelle Lamouche, VP Marketing and Communications Accor Brands UK and Ireland, said: “ibis has redefined the economy segment in product, service and communication. ibis has become a lifestyle brand, not just an economy hotel brand that offers the best sleep for the best price. The ibis family has kick-started a revolution in its market’s standards with an in-depth customer-experience revamp, in record time for an international network this size. The hotels are now the best on the market offering a style and quality of design and service that is second to none. The new advertising campaign communicates this with the style, humour, quality and personality of the ibis brand.”

A COMMUNICATION TERRITORY THAT CAPTURES IBIS’ TRANSFORMATION
ibis has built the highest exposure in its segment and is the “first choice” brand in 11 countries around the world. The repositioning of the three brands into the ibis family – ibis budget, ibis Styles and ibis – has had an effect, boosting exposure for ibis Styles (+2, to 5 points) and ibis budget (+9, to 14 points). (Source: BDRC).

ibis hotels have strengthened their brand values around products and services at reasonable prices and are venturing into a new, universal, off-beat and high-impact communication territory – “Everybody’s Famous”. The campaign strategy shows, with a humorous slant, that even the most discerning customers are now choosing ibis brand hotels because the outstanding services and comfort make them the self-evident choice. These chic, extravagant, colourful characters we admire or find entertaining reach ibis hotels with great pomp and find a hotel that is as stylish and colourful as they are.

This new 360° communication territory is unique and distinctive, and will be reaching a wide variety of communication channels (TV, digital, partnerships and PR). The campaign was designed particularly to travel on digital media and social networks – especially on Facebook where ibis brands have 600,000 fans. The multichannel communications campaign includes a #famousatibis campaign taking the brand conversation across social channels in all territories.

This campaign will reach 15 countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East in 2015. The total media investment is in excess of €15 million.

March Highlights
• Profit growth for Amsterdam and Vienna
• Slow start for Milan and Rome
• St Petersburg performed

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the signing of The Westin Manila Sonata Place and The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place, a new build property owned by Robinsons Land Corporation.The Westin Manila Sonata Place and The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place is slated to open in 2019, joining two other Philippines-based hotels in the Starwood pipeline—The Westin Manila Bayshore and Sheraton Manila Hotel, scheduled to open in 2018 and 2017.

With 300 guestrooms, The Westin Manila Sonata Place is perfectly located on San Miguel Avenue, the main street of Ortigas Business District in downtown Manila. The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place will feature nearly 350 private residential apartments, ranging from one to three bedroom units. Approximately 11 kilometers from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the development embraces the Westin brand positioning of For a better you™ by offering amenities and programs designed to inspire balance and enhance well-being, leaving guests and residents feeling better than when they first arrived.

The Westin Manila Sonata Place will offer guestrooms fully equipped with the brand’s signature amenities, such as the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed, the Heavenly® Bath experience, and an ergonomic work area for optimal productivity. The hotel will also offer three food and beverage venues, including the Lobby Lounge, a full service restaurant and a specialty restaurant.

Other features and programs designed to help guests feel their best include the WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio, a full-service spa, and a swimming pool. In addition, the hotel will expand Manila’s offerings for meetings and event planners with over 1,400 square meters of function space, including two ballrooms and six meeting rooms. Owners of The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place will enjoy a separate pool, fitness center and lounge, as well as access to the public areas of the hotel—such as the lounge, spa, and dining venues.

More images on page two…

Staff from Jameson Seating visited Milan last month as part of Salone Del Mobile, which brought about some wonderful new products and trends. Our favourite has to be from leading designers and manufacturers, Billiani, who we are one of the approved UK distributors for.

With a new collections Eileen & Spy and additions to the Doll, W, Croissant & Hippy families we are expecting these products to be very popular throughout 2015/16.

Billiani have also increased there finishes range & due to popular demand all stools can now be cut down to mid height.

Of course if you do need a unique finish then we can finish to your specification.

Then combined with our manufacturing capabilities we can provide a complete solution whether for a hotel, restaurant or other hospitality project.

For any pricing or further information on any of these products please send us an enquiry & see the below links to download the latest Billiani Catalogue & Posters.

Billiani Belonging Catalogue
Billiani Belonging Poster
Billiani Finishes
Billiani Eileen Poster

Click here to contact Jameson Seating: www.jamesonseating.co.uk

Pullman has recently been appointed to manage a new resort being built in one of the most unspoilt areas of the Maldives. The 120-villa Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort will open in 2018 and will be located in the south of the Maldives in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll in the Indian Ocean, a spectacular lagoon teeming with colourful marine life and boasting unmatched diving and snorkelling options.Located just 10 minutes by speedboat from the new airport on the gorgeous, unspoilt Maamutaa Island which spans 195,000 square metres the Pullman Maamutaa will be one of the most modern resorts in the Maldives.

Guests will enjoy five-star services and facilities including 80 spacious overwater villas and 40 villas dotted around the pristine beach, two swimming pools, a lounge, an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a sunset bar perched over the lagoon, spa and fitness centre, organic gardens, tennis court, kids club, beach playground as well as a dive centre and watersports centre so that guests can make the most out of their stay in this spectacular location.

Setting new standards in bathroom design, Simpsons, the leading British supplier of shower enclosures and modular wetroom solutions, has launched a pioneering, ultra-thin ceramic shower tray. Created from a single fusion at temperatures of 1250˚C, PLUS+TON benchmarks ceramic design in the bathroom. The innovative sanitary ware is completely scratch, stain and slip proof. It’s also 100% eco-friendly due to its recyclable quality and having been produced without using any emissions.The core fire clay has been specially formatted to create the densest, strongest and smoothest ceramic with a non-porous surface. This makes it virtually impossible for any solvent or liquid including hair dye, nail polish and even hydrochloric acid to penetrate the glazed finish. Spillages can simply be removed with water to leave the tray looking as good as new. This advanced feature also prevents the build-up of limescale deposits.

Created using the highest quality of raw materials, PLUS+TON also includes Bacterclean as standard. This is a revolutionary non-toxic antibacterial treatment, achieved by the high temperature glaze process that eliminates the development of pathogenic agents by up to 99%. Made in Italy, it features an ingenious structure that makes it incredibly lightweight. With a thickness of just 30mm, they’re almost 30% lighter than a stone resin tray. With its fully glazed sides, it’s completely reversible and can be installed in any bathroom environment, whether adjacent to walls, in the centre of the room or flush to the floor.

Click here to contact Simpsons: www.simpsons-enclosures.co.uk

The former InterContinental Berchtesgaden has been reborn as an Alpine lifestyle resort, merging unpretentious design with rustic Bavarian flair, topped off with cordial Kempinski service. The hotel’s new character is immediately apparent when entering the impressively re-designed lobby with its new oakwood floor, oversized lampshades and mounted stag’s head, exuding warm Alpine hospitality. The reopening sees a redesign of two of the three restaurants, exciting new menus in the Michelin Star restaurant Le Ciel and the introduction of the Kempinski The Spa concept in the hotel’s wellness area.This third Alpine resort under the Kempinski umbrella is closely tied to the region, with local products available at the bar, in the restaurants and in the spa. Materials like wood, loden and leather dominate the interior design. Kempinski’s signature brand ambassador, the “Lady in Red”, made her premier appearance in a stunning red dirndl – an exclusive design by Caroline Fischer Couture. Another first for Kempinski is the introduction of an Activities Concierge, whose sole job it is to provide the right activity tips and recommendations for any taste in any weather.

Modern and straightforward in appearance, the hotel comprises 138 rooms and suites on four floors along with the Kempinski The Spa, three restaurants, a bar and six meeting rooms. A unique feature is the panoramic view from anywhere in the hotel that makes the Alpine peaks and meadows appear to be within arms’ reach.

The soul and centre of the Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden is the spacious lobby with its elegant oakwood floor, soft earthen colour palette and high-end interiors. The 7-metres-high wall of hewn Styrian gneiss, several oversized lampshades and contemporary antler lamps are true eye-catchers. Here guests can relax around the open fireplace and discuss the day’s events or find a new favourite among 130 types of gin and over 300 types of whisky at the Kaminbar. The interiors of the 138 rooms and suites were maintained in their unpretentious classic design, each one featuring a balcony, a terrace or floor-to-ceiling windows. Freshly cut flowers, cosy cushions, a well-stocked minibar containing soft drinks and local beer, as well as turndown service all create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.

In honour of the opening under the Kempinski brand, Michelin-starred chef Ulrich Heiman created three new menus for the Le Ciel: Welt (world), Bayerische Alpen (Bavarian Alps) and the purely vegetarian menu called Kraut & Rüben. Gourmets can look forward to the reopening of the Le Ciel on May 22. The comfortable Bergstüberl restaurant serves traditional Alpine dishes in a casual beer garden atmosphere. Named after the first mountaineer to traverse the Watzmann East Face in 1881, the second new restaurant, the Johann Grill, serves refined regional cuisine like free-roaming ox carpaccio or venison filet. The extensive terrace offering panoramic views is the perfect place to linger a little longer.

Under the Kempinski umbrella, the resort introduces Kempinski The Spa with a 1400 sqm wellness area including an outdoor pool and relaxation area. The spa offers twelve treatment rooms where guests can enjoy La Prairie and Alpienne products and treatments inspired by the seasons of the year. Precious natural oils, organic Alpine herbs, local salts and fresh mountain spring water round out the range of products used by the wellness professionals. Exclusive treatments with a regional twist, specially developed for the hotel, include salt stone massages, tied to the long-standing tradition of salt mining in the Berchtesgaden region.

Stunning Alpine nature awaits guests literally on their doorstep, giving trail riders, hikers and mountaineers everything they could hope for. The affiliated Golf Club Berchtesgaden’s 9-hole golf course is one of the highest golf courses in Germany. In winter, the hotel offers immediate access to the Gutshof auf dem Eckerbichl ski area. For excellent shopping and cultural treats, guests can head down to Berchtesgaden or to nearby Salzburg. From families with children to couples and singles, from outdoor enthusiasts to culture vultures, the Activities Concierge is sure to recommend activities to fit the bill on sunny and on rainy days alike.

Gallery Direct’s new Maison range from their Hudson Living catalogue has been designed with a busy lifestyle in mind. It features co-ordinating statement and functional furniture to add chic, character and charm to rooms. The collection includes dining furniture, occasional tables, arm chairs, 2 seater sofas and sideboards. One of the new Maison products is an extending round dining table, seen here in Cool Grey, designed to seat 4 to 6 people. The hand painted colour perfectly complements the top which is veneered in mindy ash with a limed, weathered finish for a natural, warm look.

The Maison Balloon Back and Button Chairs with their weathered frames co-ordinate beautifully with the table to give a sophisticated lifestyle look.

All the furniture in the Hudson Living collection is design led and manufactured to the highest standards, combining the best of traditional craftsmanship with new technology and quality materials.

+44 (0) 17 95 43 91 59
www.gallerydirect.co.uk

March Highlights
• UK Provinces continue to shine against London
• Cost control lifts Chester hotel profits
• Stratford upon Avon on the up

The opening of the ibis Lille Centre Grand Palais marks a significant milestone for Accor as it the first to showcase every new concept the brand will soon include. The hallmarks include the wide open areas, designer features and comfort-enhancing amenities to welcome business travellers and tourists keen on exploring this city.After just 18 months in construction, the ibis Lille Centre Grand Palais opened on the 4th March. It spans seven stories and was built to encapsulate the brand’s up-to-the-minute comfort spirit by Olivier Dolicque and Baptiste Plantet from APSIS, a Lille-based architect firm. Marie-Laure Ducrocq created the interior architecture alongside the ibis teams.

The natural raw materials and warm colours (woods and reds) in the reception areas add an unprecedented relaxed and inviting dimension to economy hotels. These areas are open and interconnected. The partitions in the lobby are gone so staff and guests now meet in an open, more laid-back area. An ultramodern projection screen in the background broadcasts a wealth of useful information (weather forecasts, pricing, deals, etc.) with an informal, intuitive slant.

Around the reception area, guests can now have a seat in the TV lounge or Business Corner to catch the latest news, connect, work, read or drink their coffee.

This state-of-the-art, cosy hotel has 91 Sweet Rooms by ibis™, including nine suites and three rooms for mobility-impaired guests. Prices start at €73€ and these rooms will envelop travellers in a unique, original experience of economy hospitality amid printed decorative motifs, elegant and practical lighting, new headboards creating a four-poster effect, and snug flooring enhancing the comfortable, home-away-from home feel.

The rooms are 17 to 21 sq. m. and all have the Sweet Bed by ibis™, including the duvet and super-soft pillows, 22-inch flat-screen LCD TVs, generously-sized bathrooms, modular desks and free Wi-Fi. And a lot of work went into the soundproofing so guests can also sleep and work peacefully.

The hotel also offers ibis kitchen Lounge concept. To suit guests’ preferences, breakfast is served from 6:30 to 10:00 am and the buffet includes a choice of local specialities. The Lounge Bar welcomes patrons 24/7 and serves an assortment of snacks in laid-back, easy-going surroundings decorated with a sense of humour (bubbly visuals, rocking chairs, game-board tables and more).

The ibis Lille Centre Grand Palais also has a light-filled 30 sq. m. meeting room opening out onto a terrace for professional customers. This meeting room can seat 14 to 22 people depending on the configuration and includes a video-projector, screen and Wi-Fi access.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced the opening of Crowne Plaza® Berlin – Potsdamer Platz (formerly the Wyndham Grand Berlin Potsdamer Platz). The hotel will operate under a management agreement with All Stars Hotel Development and Management Company.The hotel features 256 rooms including 19 suites, an executive floor with a separate lounge and roof terrace. Furthermore the hotel offers 500m2 of meeting and event facilities, including eight flexible function rooms and one divisible ballroom which can host meetings and events for up to 250 people. In addition, the hotel offers 400m2 of leisure facilities with a spa, fitness area and treatment rooms.

The hotel’s designer furniture, natural stone mosaic floor and cosy open fireplace create a welcoming atmosphere in the spacious lobby. The hotel’s restaurant “The Post” offers the charm of an elegant French brasserie and freshly prepared Mediterranean specialties for dining. Diners can watch the chefs in action in an open show kitchen, whilst in the inner-court guests can take advantage of the spacious terrace.

Crowne Plaza Berlin – Potsdamer Platz is well placed to meet the needs of international and domestic business travellers who frequent the city. It is close to governmental buildings, political party headquarters and other businesses, and within a 15 minute walk of Potsdamer Platz – one of the most visited sights in Berlin with its shops, restaurants and bars. It is equally suited to leisure guests being close to some of Berlin’s major tourist attractions, and well connected to Berlin’s airports and the central railway station.

Roomzzz Aparthotel, part of the Parklane Group has confirmed their second Manchester site will be in the £30M redevelopment of the iconic Corn Exchange in the City Centre. A significant move for the brand, after enjoying six years as one of the leading accommodation providers in Manchester.Mark Walton – head of Roomzzz Aparthotel UK comments, ‘The demand in the City for Roomzzz Aparthotel is substantial – we are running at 100% occupancy week on week, a second location in close proximity is a strategic game-changer for the brand.’

The Corn Exchange development will be the second historic site that Roomzzz have developed in the City. Roomzzz took on an urban mill conversion on Princess Street and have successfully curated a dynamic offering which sees the brand sitting at Number 1 on Trip Advisor based on customer reviews.

The Corn Exchange scheme will merge the Roomzzz ‘New Generation’ concept, debuting in Chester in April 2015 with bold bespoke interior designs, resulting in a combination ranging from ultra-sleek 21 sqm pods to super luxury palatial penthouses to form a total of 114 apartments.
The intention is to cement the Roomzzz reputation as Manchester’s leading accommodation provider and to compete for the status one of the best properties in the UK.

Mark Walton comments: ‘Our ability to operate multiple sites in the same City is tried, tested and proven in Leeds. Consumer requests for more Roomzzz illustrates the fact that the Aparthotel is an increasingly popular choice for booking accommodation in major UK cities. Guests appreciate the freedom Roomzzz allow them in terms of lifestyle choices – cooking an evening meal, office space in each apartment with free wifi and National & Mobile phone calls and the flexibility to stay from one night to a year. We committed to 100% transparency on our prices in 2006, this, alongside innovative design, strategic city choices and our ability to drive value alongside luxury, confirms Roomzzz Aparthotel’s position in the marketplace as the one to watch’.

Walton concludes, ‘Roomzzz Aparthotel are delighted to be partnering with Aviva and working with hotel consultants Christie + Co and DWF, who provided legal advice, to transform the iconic heritage of The Corn Exchange into a beacon for modern lifestyle choices for affordable luxe accommodation in the UK. This is a large investment, with a £13M commitment to create a spectacular property that will not only illustrate the progression and development of Roomzzz but will be seen as the revival and legacy of this historic part of Manchester.’

’Simon Green from Corn Exchange owners Aviva Property Investors Trust said: ‘We are committed to the full redevelopment of this remarkable building. The vision is to create a new legacy destination for the city and the Roomzzz Aparthotel investment will cement the future fortunes of Corn Exchange and act as a catalyst for an even more exciting regeneration of this part of the city centre.’

Roomzzz at The Corn Exchange will be taking bookings from February 2016 and will open in mid 2016.

MK Electric, the UK’s leading manufacturer of wiring accessories, has integrated its USB charging capabilities into its iconic product portfolio. MK Electric was one of the first UK manufacturers to introduce a range of award winning USB charging modules, and now this technology is being integrated into six of its wiring device ranges including Logic Plus, Metalclad Plus, Albany Plus, Edge, Aspect and the newly introduced Elements range. The USB charging solutions are designed to provide a faster and optimised charging performance and enhance user experience in a world where we are accustomed to the immediacy and convenience that technology provides.As smartphones and tablets increasingly become the device of choice for business and personal use, the ability to charge these devices via USB ports is critical. This is especially true for millennials (18-34 year olds), who are predicted to account for approximately 75 per cent of the global workforce by 2025, and have come to expect, and even depend on, having connectivity and information at their fingertips.

However, whilst travelling, millennials are often faced with challenges when their devices run out of battery. An online YouGov survey conducted by MK Electric revealed that, while 85 per cent of millennials carry chargeable devices whilst travelling, over a quarter of this age group have lost contact with people they are travelling with due to loss of battery power on their devices. Moreover, according to the survey data, losing battery power can make millennials feel ‘very frustrated’ (39 per cent), ‘anxious’ (26 per cent) and/or ‘in a panic’ (13 per cent) when they are travelling.

Nadine Deery, Channel Marketing Manager says: “As we all become increasingly dependent on technology to support and manage our lifestyles, companies must produce innovative products and solutions to stay in tune with this evolving landscape.” She continues: “At MK Electric, we believe the solution will be found in flexible and reliable solutions that simplify and enhance user experience, such as USB charging capabilities.”

USB charging becomes more sophisticated with MK Electric’s ability to provide optimum charging compatibilities. The MK USB Integrated Sockets include Dynamic Device Recognition; the ability to detect charging nuances in the device and its appetite for power. The Dynamic Device Recognition is unique to each USB port, which means that different manufacturers’ devices on both iOS and Android can be charged simultaneously without any impairment to the other. For the ultimate user experience, each port can also charge different types of devices, such as smartphones and tablets, at the same time.

The MK USB Integrated Sockets offer a simple but powerful advantage for airports, hotels, universities, schools, offices and retail outlets for quick and convenient charging. The fixed installation USB chargers remove the need for continual PAT testing of adaptors, reducing the risk of unapproved chargers being used, which can lead to damage of devices.

Designed with versatility in mind, the MK Electric USB Integrated Socket has its USB ports vertically stacked under the rockers allowing for each of the USB outlets to be used simultaneously, even when transformer plug tops are in use. This strategic design provides space to manoeuvre charging cords and reduces stress on cables while charging. Users can also benefit from the fixed installation USB charger by requiring just one cable to be used for multiple devices, which avoids the need to carry a variety of bulky adaptors for different devices.

While building innovation into its product ranges, MK Electric has ensured that safety, quality and reliability are, as always, at the forefront of design. The USB Integrated Sockets, like the entire MK wiring device ranges, include a 3-Pin “Child Resistant Shutter System”, designed to inhibit access to the electricity supply, unless all 3 pins of a standard British 13A plug are in position. In addition, the Logic Plus range, with its high grade thermoset material, provides inherent antimicrobial properties.

The easy to install USB Integrated Sockets hold the CE mark as they conform to all of the safety certification and approvals applicable for a 13A socket including BS5733, BS1363-2 and IEC 61558-2-16. All products will fit into a 35mm back box, with the exception of the Edge range which requires a 47mm back box.

MK Electric offer a wide range of front-plates in a variety of finishes and its Design Service also allows customers to create their own bespoke combinations. The USB Integrated Sockets are available from May 2015.

For more information please visit: www.mkelectric.co.uk

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, FFC Capital Corp. and Crescent Hotels & Resorts today announce the opening of the 155-room Hyatt Place Pittsburgh South/Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington, PA. The hotel is connected to The Meadows Casino by an enclosed walkway bridge, and it is the first Hyatt Place hotel to open in Pennsylvania’s Washington County.Hyatt Place Pittsburgh South/Meadows Racetrack & Casino offers:
• 155 spacious guestrooms, all of which feature a swiveling 42-inch HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed® and Cozy Corner sectional sofa
• Free Wi-Fi everywhere
• Parlay Lounge, the hotel’s signature bar
• Complimentary a.m. Kitchen Skillet TM breakfast for guests, featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, a variety of fresh fruits, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, breads, premium coffee and an assortment of juices
• 24/7 Gallery Menu serving made-to-order entrees and appetizers around the clock
• A Coffee to Cocktails Bar featuring specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and cocktails
• 1,800 square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting/function space
• Complimentary 24-hour gym for guests

Guests of Hyatt Place Pittsburgh South/Meadows Racetrack & Casino can enjoy the hotel’s signature bar, Parlay Lounge. Featuring specialty drinks, local brews and an extensive menu, including sushi rolled to order, Parlay Lounge is a great addition to Southwestern Pennsylvania’s nightlife scene. The bar area features eleven 55-inch TVs, and the outdoor patio with a fire pit offers three 65-inch TVs to stay tuned to popular sporting events. Live music from local bands will also be available on select days.

Other amenities include a variety of premiere dining options, 24-lane bowling alley suitable for all ages and live shows and entertainment every weekend. Banquet and event space is available for groups up to 2,000 attendees, and can be booked with hotel accommodations through a dedicated meeting package at Hyatt Place Pittsburgh South/Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

Marriott International, Inc has recently announced the development of the 130 room Moxy Tbilisi Hotel located in Saarbrucken Square, central Tbilisi (Georgia). It will be the third Marriott International property owned by GMT Group in Tbilisi in addition to the Courtyard Tbilisi and Tbilisi Marriott Hotel. GMT Group has partnered with Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a government agency, to provide USD25 million for the construction of the hotel which will be part of new retail and office development around Saarbrucken Square. The hotel will be situated in a prime location close to the River Mtkvari and a short drive from the historic city centre with its picturesque cafes and restaurants, popular with both tourists and business travellers.

Occupying a private island in the heart of the lagoon, the St. Regis Venice San Clemente Palace marks the official debut of the St. Regis brand in Venice. Only a ten-minute boat ride from the renowned St. Mark’s Square, the island will offer guests both an oasis from and easy access to the bustling Venetian streets and canals.

Combining celebrations of the re-opening with the start of the 56th Venice Art Biennale, the landmark property is establishing itself as the perfect base to explore the arts with a huge open-air art display. Open now to guests and art lovers alike, the hotel’s extensive park showcases the works from world-famous artists including Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj.

Architects and designers can now explore the different environments of the Zaha Hadid-designed Roca London Gallery and gain CPD points. The leading bathroom manufacturer, Roca, is now offering RIBA and BIID-approved guided tours of its inspirational Gallery, located in Chelsea’s Design Quarter. During the 45-minute long tour, attendees will discuss the various aspects of the Gallery’s conception and construction, covering everything from the challenges presented by the original space and existing conditions, to the design concept, spatial strategies, and the design and construction timeline, detailing how the materials for the building were chosen.

The CPD tour will give attendees an understanding of how Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) translated Roca’s brief into an exciting, award-winning concept.

Roca’s Training and Exhibitions Manager Cristiane Kopp comments: “Roca London Gallery is an inspiring piece of architecture. The guided tour gives architects and designers the opportunity to understand how this unique design concept was realised, and reflects Roca’s commitment to providing an insightful and innovative CPD programme.”

Individuals or groups can book a Guided Tour of Roca London Gallery, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm. Evening tours are also possible for groups only. Contact cpd.contact@uk.roca.net

Other RIBA-approved CPD materials from Roca:
• A CPD approved article on Roca’s most innovative WC to date – the In-Tank Meridian. The first of its kind to integrate the cistern into the pan, the article provides information about the groundbreaking product design, and how it differs from any other WC. Visit www.ripacpd.com to find the Roca article.

• Identifying factors affecting both product development and innovations that are influencing bathroom design, Roca’s 45 minute seminar ‘Shaping the Bathroom Space of the Future’ considers new technologies and the importance of design details in future bathroom environments. This seminar can be delivered at the gallery or another convenient location.

To book the RIBA-approved Guided Tour of the Roca London Gallery, or to enquire about the CPD seminar email cpd.contact@uk.roca.net

For further information contact Roca London Gallery, Station Court, Townmead Road, London, SW6 2PY
Tel: 0207 610 9503 / Website: www.uk.roca.com

Pullman Hotels & Resorts has recently announced that the Pullman Dubai Jumeirah Lakes Towers is now open.

Elegant and contemporary in design with a warm ambience, that makes one feel right at home, The Pullman Hotel & Residence Jumeirah Lakes Towers is situated in Cluster T of the master planned, lakeside community. The 35-storey tower features 354 rooms, 278 deluxe rooms and 76 luxurious suites and serviced apartments, with a comprehensive food and beverage offering, fitness and spa facilities and conference and events venues.

Towering high at 137 meters, the property sits in close proximity to Dubai Marina, the TECOM business districts, and the world-famous Emirates Golf Club, as well as Dubai’s main shopping destinations.

The eight-story AC Hotel Washington, DC at National Harbor features 192 guest rooms and six suites, 3,700-square-feet of meeting space and a fitness centre. Additional amenities include free Wi-Fi, and signature spaces including AC Kitchen, AC Library and AC Lounge. BAR WITH A TWIST
At AC Hotel, beverages come first. The AC Lounge features all-knowing bartenders who act as a go-to source for exploring the local area. Guests can experience classic drinks, like its signature Gintonic, along with small plates at the AC Lounge. The lounge delivers to its guests’ handcrafted cocktails, wine on tap, and local craft beers in a can.

EUROPEAN-INSPIRED FOOD SCENE
The food scene found at AC Hotel stems from its Spanish roots, offering tapas in the evening at AC Lounge and a European-inspired breakfast at AC Kitchen. Guests enjoy freshly baked croissants flown in from France, hand sliced prosciutto from a Berkel artisan slicer, an assortment of cheeses, sweet and savoury tarts, and freshly brewed hot and iced coffee.

ART SCENE
AC Hotel Washington, DC at National Harbor was designed purposefully and has incorporated the linear design of the harbor into its art. Upon entering the eight-story hotel, guests will find a rope wall inspired by boats docked on the Potomac River, as well as modern nautical accents throughout. Outside in National Harbor lies a growing public art scene of both international and local artists. Special highlights include the iconic “The Awakening” statue by J. Steward Johnson, Jr. and “The Beckoning” by Albert Paley.

MILLENNIAL-DRIVEN EXPERIENCE
Looking to engage the millennial traveller, AC Hotels by Marriott incorporates a design-focus approach. Guests will find open-concept closets and integrated work desk and luggage benches in all rooms. Complimentary WiFi, ample USB and power ports and smart TVs that can stream on-demand content is a much appreciated, added bonus.

A PART OF THE COMMUNITY
AC Hotel adds to the roster of new investments in the growing destination of National Harbor. With its opening, it has created nearly 50 new jobs with more than half of the positions filled by associates living in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Operated under a long-term management agreement by Marriott International, the hotel is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties.

York’s Best Western Monkbar Hotel has unveiled its new, state-of-the-art function suite.

Located in the heart of the city of York, The Monkbar Hotel is the ideal venue to hold meetings ranging in size from six up to 250.The flexible Dales Suite – which can be broken down to four smaller function rooms – is one of the main features of the hotel’s £3m programme of expansion and improvements.

Perfect for disabled guests, the ground-floor space incorporates integrated audio/visual technology, wide screen projection& HDMI connectivity, and benefits from floor to ceiling natural daylight and air-conditioning. Complimentary high-speed internet access is included for all delegates.

Nikki Brannan, Monkbar Hotel sales manager, said: “The Dales Suite adds a new and exciting dimension to our events and conference offering.

“This new state-of-the-art facility, designed and constructed with both delegate and organiser in mind, is a welcome addition to our five existing function rooms.

“In addition, our brand new bedrooms – which takes the total to 125 – means we can now cater for bigger conferences, particularly where guests are requiring overnight accommodation.”

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has recently announced the opening of the 257-room, full-service Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago, the first Hyatt Centric branded property to open worldwide. The hotel will deliver on the brand’s mission of putting its guests at the centre of the action in the best destinations. Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago is owned by Integrated Clark Monroe, LLC and managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago is in a 22-story, 1927 art deco office building designed by Frank Chase, located at 100 W. Monroe St. in downtown Chicago. The property has undergone a transformative renovation into an iconic new hotel while maintaining the integrity of the building’s roots and preserving its historical details. One feature of the property is the adaptive reuse of the original landowner and farmer Willard Jones’ cow path that was used to herd cattle – now it is a special walkway that leads locals and guests to the hotel’s rooftop bar.

The modern and urban guest rooms balance the energy of the city with a calm, inviting respite through minimal but upscale features, which include unique bathroom designs with private showers and water closet areas.
“It is most significant and particularly rewarding that our first Hyatt property is also the first of its kind, worldwide,” said John T. Murphy, managing member, Integrated Clark Monroe, LLC. “We couldn’t be more delighted with the outcome of this group effort and certainly see this as the beginning of a very successful relationship.”

The hotel will offer guests multiple dining options, including a seasonal rooftop bar, AIRE, with creative signature cocktails, contemporary and eclectic décor and panoramic views of the Chicago cityscape. It also features an upscale French bistro, Cochon Volant Bakery Brasserie and Bar, serving gourmet cheeses, fresh baked goods, organic juices, and culinary masterpieces by James Beard award-winning Master Chef Roland Liccioni.

The hotel features 2,513 square feet of meeting space with each conference room named for an influential figure in the Loop’s history: famed industrialist Charles Yerkes; landowner Willard Jones; author Frank Norris; and sculptor Alvin Meyer.

Accor Asia Pacific has been appointed by Pristine Island Investments Pte Ltd to manage a new resort being built in one of the most unspoilt areas of the Maldives. The 68-villa Mercure will open in 2016, and will be located in the south of the Maldives in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll in the Indian Ocean, a spectacular lagoon teeming with colourful marine life and boasting unmatched diving and snorkelling options.

Bringing stylish mid-scale accommodation to the pristine south of the Maldives The Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort will provide one of the best-value accommodation options in the spectacular Maldives, with 68 villas including 43 located over water and 25 scattered along the white sandy beach. The resort will be built using local materials, bright colours and stylish furniture with the interiors designed to reflect the Maldivian culture and the spirit of travel. It will be the only Maldivian beach resort directly accessible by domestic plane, without the need of an additional speedboat journey. Facilities will include an all-day restaurant, lobby lounge, pool and pool bar, sunset bar, spa and gym as well as a range of watersports including a dive centre. The arrival of the Kooddoo Airport has opened up the beautiful south of the island nation, away from most of the resort developments further north of the archipelago.

“The mid-scale Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort will be our first hotel development in the Maldives and we are pleased to partner with Accor which has a large brand portfolio catering to different market segments and a strong brand presence in Europe and Asia”, said Mr Ronald Leo, CEO of Pristine Island Investments Pte Ltd.

Accor has a long relationship with the Keong Kong Holdings Pte Ltd, the majority shareholder of Pristine Islands Investment, as they appointed Accor to build and manage the flagship ibis Singapore Bencoolen Resort back in 2007. The success of that hotel has given Pristine Islands Investment great confidence in choosing Accor as its partner on this exciting new project in the Maldives.

Chelsom were commissioned to create a series of bespoke lighting products onboard Britain’s biggest ever cruise ship, the £473 million P&O Britannia, which was officially named by Her Majesty The Queen at a glittering ceremony in Southampton in MarchThe 3,647 passenger luxury cruise liner is the largest vessel designed for the British holiday market and stretches longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. It boasts 15 passenger decks, 26 bars and eateries and 4 swimming pools. It also features a three-tier atrium, a 936-seater theatre and a multi-million pound art collection.

Having most recently collaborated with award winning designers Richmond International on London’s 5-star boutique hotel ,The Beaumont, Chelsom once again partnered with their design team to produce an array of unique lighting products for the public areas designed to enhance the sophisticated luxury of the wider interior scheme. Chelsom’s vast experience in devising lighting schemes for marine projects ensured that all products supplied blended superior design and functionality with the exacting requirements of marine specification.

One of the standout pieces created by Chelsom was a dramatic gold centrepiece specified for the Epicurean Restaurant. Over 9 meters of interwoven gilded metal ribbons form a sculptural ceiling feature running the length of the restaurant to create visual impact. Each of the ribbons was fitted with an LED strip on the upper side to give a warm reflective glow from the ceiling plate above.

Chelsom produced another illuminated ceiling structure for the Live Lounge bar area featuring a series of sculptural 3D diamonds in gloss black and metallic gold fixed to the ceiling in pairs of smaller and larger sizes to give a more organic look to the piece whilst emitting a soft ambient glow reflected in the gilded ceiling above. The Oasis spa area also features statement linear and circular light installations using clear acrylic solid rods of varying lengths along the main wall and the central treatment area of the spa. Each rod has an individual integral LED module housed at the top and has been designed with bubbles inside to give a waterfall effect picking up and refracting the light to generate a warm ambient glow suited to the relaxing spa environment.

In addition to these statement custom-made pieces, Chelsom supplied a series of 12-armed bespoke chandeliers for the ship’s Supper and Limelight Clubs, finished in copper with complementary copper shades to provide a touch of decadence to the surroundings. A quartet of bespoke, rectangular LED fittings in matt black were also produced for the Cookery Club designed to provide functional light to optimise space and generate efficient light for working conditions.

Director Will Chelsom said, “We have worked with P&O Cruises on a number of projects over recent years and it was a true privilege to have been part of such a prestigious project as Britannia. To be able to add Britannia to our marine portfolio is undoubtedly a real honour and is testimony to the expertise we have accumulated within the marine sector. With a number of high profile marine projects on the horizon for 2015 and beyond this will hopefully further cement our reputation as one of the leading designers and suppliers of decorative lighting to the international marine sector.”

01253 831401
Chelsom.co.uk

Leisure Plan are pleased to announce the availability of their 2015 catalogue which can be requested by calling 01279 816001.Luxury Outdoor Designer Furniture from Leisure Plan – a perfect partnership from Leisure Plan

Three leading brands – from one exclusive source. Leisure Plan represents three of the most distinguished brands of European outdoor furniture: Dedon, Ego Paris and Fischer Mobel.

All collections are on permanent display at our large showroom, located close to the M25/M11 or approximately 30 minutes from London Liverpool Street station.

Unique Selling Points

Leisure Plan’s large stockholding also ensures a fast and reliable delivery service throughout the UK and overseas. When you place an order with us, we manage the whole process. Your items are hand-picked by our Warehouse Manager from our premises in Bishops Stortford and then delivered using our own transport ensuring arrival at the right place at the agreed time.

The WOW Factor!

For the finishing touch, Leisure Plan’s own in-house UK cushion workshop offers a bespoke production service supported by an extensive choice of fabrics, colours and styles, including a COM make-up service and all cushions comply with UK fire regulations.

Click here to contact Leisure Plan www.leisureplan.co.uk

Located in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Province, the 445m tall mixed-use Nanning China Resource Center Tower is sited along Minzu Avenue at the heart of the burgeoning Fengling District. The 255,000 square meter tower is linked to public transportation through underground connections at the B1 level, and to adjacent buildings via indoor and outdoor pedestrian corridors at the ground and sixth floors respectively. Upon completion, the NRC Tower will be the tallest building in Nanning.The design of the tower is derived from its multiple uses which include 170,000 square meters of Class A office space, 5,000 square meters of boutique retail, and a 45,000 square meters luxury Shangri-La hotel.

The angled geometries of the façades are designed to reinforce the crystalline form while celebrating the tower’s verticality. Entirely encased in floor to ceiling high performance glass, the skin design features integrated ceramic shading elements that offer added solar control while maintaining ample natural light without obstructing views.

Designed to LEED-NC Gold standards, the high performing façade is one of many features holistically integrated towards reducing the project’s environmental footprint while providing a world class level of comfort and quality.

“The overall effect of the tower is of a crystalline form ascending to the sky; culminating in an illuminated beacon that will define the new Nanning skyline,” says Paul De Santis, LEED AP, principal at Goettsch Partners (GP) who designed the project.

Royal warranted carpet manufacturer Brintons is to launch Ciranda, its third Axminster carpet collection in collaboration with designer Virginia Langley.Ciranda is a contemporary application of rhythm in design, and Virginia took her inspiration from the influence of the vivacious & hypnotic movements of traditional Brazilian dance. With freestyle brush strokes & bold painted textures, Virginia has simulated these rhythmic dances into expressive patterns to create the collection.

“I’ve been designing for Brintons for over a year now and I am thoroughly enjoying being part of such a dynamic company and team,” says Virginia Langley. “It is wonderful to see my artwork and textures come to life with Brinton’s Axminster carpet. There are so many amazing details that I can achieve with their woven products which really shows the high end quality that sets them apart.”

Virginia credits her inspiration for Ciranda to the experience of travelling the world. She added: “Whether is has been to Europe, the Islands of Fiji, or to South America; the many places I have been fortunate to visit have traditional dancers adorned with flowing fabrics, natural grasses, and sometimes local flora. To me, dance is a time to be expressive and creative by following a rhythm to feel light-hearted & free. I hope these designs bring these feelings and atmosphere everywhere they go.”

This collection, based on the thriving trends of simplistic textural styling, combines organic and industrial silhouettes in dynamic combinations. The result is a modern and sophisticated collection bringing music and dance to Axminster carpet design.

For more information on Brintons and its range of products and services for the commercial sector, visit www.brintons.net or call 01562 635665.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of The Westin Jekyll Island, a 200-room, convention-class, beachfront hotel on Georgia’s acclaimed barrier island. The five-story, U-shaped, beachfront hotel was designed by LLW Architects of Memphis, Tenn., to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, (LEED) Silver specifications and minimize the hotel’s impact on the barrier island’s sensitive surroundings. The 8,750 cubic yards of concrete used in the construction were sourced from a plant in Brunswick, Ga., only 15 miles from the site. Westin brand room design specifications also are 60 percent more sustainable than conventionally built guest rooms, providing a more healthful guest environment.

Dining options at The Westin Jekyll Island include The Reserve, an upscale, casual restaurant serving the freshest local seafood and Salty’s poolside bar and café for cocktails and lighter fare. At Harry’s @The Reserve, the hotel’s outdoor rooftop bar, guests can enjoy sweeping views of the beach and ocean. Westin SuperFoodsRX™ options are on the menu at all three restaurants.

The Westin Jekyll Island is an ideal choice for small groups, weddings and reunions in search of a premier location, offering 5,260 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and banquet facilities, as well as outdoor venues. Additional facilities include a resort-style outdoor pool, the flexible, Tangent™ at Westin workspace where groups of four or more can collaborate, and the brand’s signature WestinWORKOUT® gym experience, including loaner gear and a running concierge.

The Westin Jekyll Island is the cornerstone of Jekyll Island’s Beach Village project, which includes an oceanfront promenade, village green, restaurants, upscale boutiques, Great Dunes Park and the 128,000-square-foot Jekyll Island Convention Center – the only beachfront convention center in the southeast.

The hotel is owned by Jekyll Oceanfront Hotel, LLC (JOFH), a joint venture comprised of several investors including Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc, a nationally recognized real estate development company, and New Castle Hotels & Resorts, an award- winning, independent third-party hotel manager.

This spring, Muraspec introduces WALLMOTION; a carefully curated collection of wallcoverings, with high-impact designs that deliver outstanding looks, echoing both current and future trends in wall finishes. In addition to stone, tile, concrete and wood effects, this launch collection includes metallic, floral and abstract designs; scalable to size, and customizable in colour for the perfect result, each and every time.

Muraspec will be, continuously, adding new designs to the WALLMOTION collection, demonstrating one of the many advantages of having in-house teams. You’ll always find up-to-the-minute looks, alongside longstanding favourites!

For more information, including samples, please contact Muraspec’s Customer Services team on 08705 117118 or visit www.muraspec.com

The new Casa Display Cabinet from GALLERY DIRECT’s Hudson Living range is shown here in a weathered mindy ash finish, but is also available in a painted soft grey. These elegant cabinets are ideal for modern living, offering a stylish storage solution.

With superb attention to detail, they feature complementary coloured back panels and hand cast hardware.

Supplied fully assembled, they include 2 adjustable height shelves.

The new Hudson Living furniture collection is a range of design led, personality pieces that combine the best of traditional craftsmanship with new technology and exciting materials.

+44 (0) 17 95 43 91 59
Click here to contact Gallery Direct: http://www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Leading Japanese hotelier Fujita Kanko Inc. has recently opened the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, the Hotel Gracery brand’s new flagship, in Kabukicho, Tokyo’s entertainment and nightlife hub (the Tokyo district that never sleeps) in the Shinjuku ward. The 970-room hotel opens as part of a brand-new Kabukicho entertainment complex, Shinjuku Toho Building. The building also offers a 12-screen cinema complex and various dining and amusement facilities. For months, there has been worldwide buzz about the hotel’s one-of-a-kind Godzilla-themed guest rooms that will transport guests into the world of the celebrated monster movies. “We are excited about Hotel Gracery Shinjuku’s debut after so much anticipation. Our Godzilla-themed rooms are booked for months. We are ready to demonstrate that our commitment to service is bigger than Godzilla,” says Akira Segawa, President and CEO of Fujita Kanko.

There are two types of Godzilla-themed rooms. The Godzilla Room, located on the top floor and the only room of its kind, enjoys a Godzilla-themed interior including wall panels and a trick wall with special effects, a life-size replica of Godzilla’s claw looming over the beds, and a Godzilla figure standing in the room. Godzilla Room guests can bring home original Godzilla memorabilia not available anywhere else.

Guests can also choose one of six Godzilla View Rooms, where they can see from their windows a life-size replica of Godzilla’s head on the hotel’s eighth-floor terrace. The View Rooms have the same interior as the hotel’s other guest rooms.

Anticipating a large number of international guests, the hotel set up a designated international guest counter, with staff to offer assistance in English, Chinese, Korean and Thai. The concierge also helps guests find and book various tickets, sightseeing, night spots and restaurants. Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, the only property of its size and quality in Kabukicho, also offers two dining facilities and spacious guest rooms with separated toilets/bathrooms.

New research by Barclays shows that the over 65s added £37 billion*(2) to the UK economy through spending on the Hospitality & Leisure sector in the last year. This contribution equates to over a third (36%) more than the average consumer and 27% higher than the 35 – 54 year olds who are the second biggest spending generation.Despite this, the An ageing population: the untapped potential for hospitality and leisure businesses report from Barclays Corporate Banking, reveals that the UK Hospitality & Leisure Sector has missed out on at least a further £16 billion in additional revenues by underestimating the spending power of the older generation in the last year.

Sector must innovate and re-focus to capitalise
Just 5% of businesses within the sector see the “overlooked generation” (those aged 65 and over) as the most important demographic in terms of sales and revenue for their company. In fact only one in five businesses (22%) ranked over 65s in their top three target age groups. While a significant number of Hotel and Travel businesses are alert to the fact that the over 65s spend more per customer than any other group (38% and 44% respectively), more than a third (37%) of businesses in the sector perceive 34-44 year olds as their priority target market, despite these consumers spending less money on average.

Furthermore, more than three quarters of businesses (76%) have no plans to introduce products or services that specifically targets the over 65s. Of these, 37% have not even considered targeting this age group and 28% see little financial opportunity in catering to them.

Without action, this missed opportunity is only set to increase in line with the UK’s ageing population. The total annual spend of over 65s could grow to at least £57 billion by 2025*(3), based on the projected 34% growth in the population of over 65s. This could be even higher considering the increased mobility and active lifestyles the over 65s are now living.

Mike Saul, Head of Hospitality and Leisure at Barclays, said: “It is clear from the Report that the over 65 age group is a huge and untapped opportunity for the Hospitality and Leisure Sector with the UK. There appears to be a gulf between the perception and reality of the spending power of over 65s. By not fully focusing on the needs of this generation, and the revenue growth opportunity they represent, businesses may risk missing out on their share of £16 billion this year alone.

“We have found that almost two-fifths of businesses in the sector expect that the proportion of their turnover generated by over 65s will increase over the next five years. Yet more needs to be done to start planning and accommodating for the currently ‘overlooked generation’. By investment in targeting these customers now, businesses can pre-empt the effects of an ageing population, ensuring they are able to meet and capitalise on the increasing demand.”

Continued on page two…

For the last fifteen years HotelDesigns has travelled the world looking at hotels – over 300 having been visited and critiqued through these pages. Almost all have been personally visited by yours truly, and for years I have criticised hotels for their lack of understanding of luxury and for their, in my view foolish, focus on the 34 – 44 age group.

In part this was sparked by reaction to one of the first hotels visited, the Meridien Vienna, with its luxury bathroom with walk-in shower with a stool inside, and the freestanding bathtub with its pole dancers’ pole. This seemed to me to have the design that catered both for the young and the older guest alike. Interestingly too, the design came from a theatre designer rather than an interior designer – a little like the beginnings of Richmond International, now known as a respected interiors house but in its heyday founded and driven to the top of the league by Bob Lush, its inspired theatre designer founder.I have spoken at conferences and had arguments with board members of Hilton and Starwood amongst others who seemed to me to fail to appreciate the true meaning of luxury. A few, like consultancy TRi, have supported my views but in general the bean counters have driven hotels largely down the Millennial worship trail ignoring that these are the people who are struggling to buy houses, pay for their kids etc., and that the real economic power has lain with their parents.

Now Barclays Bank has quantified the amount that hotels are missing out on through this myopia. Oh yes – for some it has been a strength, such as Citizen M who have focussed on the younger guest, or others such as Premier Inn who have tried very successfully to deliver luxury at a budget price (their hotels would have been considered four star not so long ago).

Barclay’s figures now show how the over 65’s added £37 billion spending in the Hospitality and Leisure sector in the last year, over a third more than the average consumer and 27% higher than the 35 – 54 years olds. My own observations through my travel experience is that these numbers are higher still in other markets such as those in mature European destinations or in the more esoteric such as the games parks of Africa.

Continued on page two…

The first Cambria Suites in New York City, the premier location for Choice Hotels’ premier, highest-end brand, is now open for business at 123 West 28th Street in Chelsea’s Flower District. The flagship site has been designed tip to toe by Gene Kaufman Architect (GKA), from the gently curving façade to the urban chic interiors that will set the tone for all future U.S. Cambria locations, including a GKA-designed Times Square location at 30 West 46th Street set to open next fall.The project’s developers are the brothers Robert and Philip Chun of We Care Trading Company LTD.

Choice was drawn to GKA because of the firm’s track record for maximizing key counts in a market with less space, more competition and higher costs than any other in the U.S. For this first New York Cambria, a completely customized rather than brand-standard 56,500-square-foot, 18-story hotel, GKA configured 135 comfortably sized suites ranging from 230 square feet to 400 square feet.

For the exterior, GKA designed an elegant, softly-curving façade that offers a quiet contrast to the perpendicular fronts of the hotel’s neighbors, a Hilton Garden Inn next door and a Marriott Fairfield Inn across the street, both designed by GKA.

The unique interiors were designed by GKA’s interiors team, known for creating sleek, contemporary decors that bring the city into the hotel in stylish and eye-catching ways. For this project in the heart of Chelsea, the group chose materials that recall the area’s industrial past and developed a unifying floral concept, realized in wall hangings, wall coverings and framed artwork, that alludes to the surrounding Flower District.

Said GKA principal Gene Kaufman: “Choice invited us to completely reimagine Cambria’s interiors, and that’s what we’ve done. The layout and design of both the common areas and the suites work together to maximize open space and deliver a fun, fresh and distinctly New York sensibility.”

While an earlier planned opening of the hotel was pushed back due to construction delays, the extra time gave GKA the chance to tweak every detail of the design to achieve the desired effect.

A new look for Cambria
To announce its entry into the New York market – the premier hospitality market in the country – and to set the tone for all future U.S. locations, Cambria sought a design concept that would add a sense of luxury and urban chic to the identity of its highest-end brand.

GKA rose to the occasion, designing a loft-like lobby that is as sophisticated as it is welcoming. The reception, lounge/bar and dining areas flow easily into one another, the open space interrupted only by carefully placed groupings of contemporary, custom-upholstered couches and sectional pieces (by Munrod) and streamlined lounge chairs (Nios, by Arcadia).

Enhancing the loft-like ambiance and recalling Chelsea’s manufacturing past are contrasting areas of concrete and raw-wood planked flooring, concrete wall finishes (by Get Real Surfaces, as are the concrete floors), fragmented mirror mosaics (by Mixed-Up Mosaics) and bronze-tinted glass. The striking yet unobtrusive overhead light fixtures (by Eureka and Marset) are reminiscent of, but more elegant than, the kind of industrial lighting that might have once been found in Chelsea factories (the table and floor lamps are by Vibia and Artemide, respectively).

Contrasting nicely with the lobby’s warmer tones are the jewel-like colors of the arresting oversize floral wall hangings, handmade in felt by local artist Liora Manne using a needle-punch process. The images of giant flowers in full bloom, replicated in photo collages (printed by Koroseal) lining the hallways and in framed artwork in the suites, erupt with intense, bold color, reminding guests of the surrounding Chelsea Flower District.

Upstairs, guests will find thoughtfully planned, comfortably sized and well-appointed suites that offer a respite from the city, a place to relax and regroup. Each of the rooms, which range in size from 230 square feet to 400 square feet, has a generous sleeping area; a large, functional work space; a sizable bathroom; and guest seating. Custom wardrobes and dressers maximize floor space by incorporating every kind of storage a guest might need. Plank flooring, sliding glass shower doors and, in many of the suites, floor-to-ceiling windows that let in abundant natural light, create a feeling of expansiveness.

Completing the picture is gentle, understated lighting and soft-toned bedding, wall coverings and carpets (by Shaw Hospitality Group) offset by gold-accented draperies.

Drawing inspiration from nature these latest two collections from Newmor provide a contrast which is sure to delight.

True to its name, Ashlar Block captures the beauty and texture of finely cut masonry. Available in 9 colours, the collection brings a new depth in urban sophistication through its clever use of texture, natural hues and metallic highlights. The large scale block design provides the perfect industrial look which continues to be a popular trend in both commercial and residential interiors.Suzanne Edwards, Design Manager at Newmor explains ‘it is the purity of stone and the precision with which the blocks are cut that define the Ashlar look. Our team at Newmor has achieved this through carefully mixing print effects with a finely textured emboss, all crafted and printed in our own manufacturing facility in Welshpool’.

The large scale design works well for any size of wall, its sleek design captures the natural stone finish and the introduction of metallic copper and old-gold adds a layer of refinement not seen in urban interiors.

Elegant and understated, Fenn provides a timeless addition to any well-designed scheme. Inspired by grass-cloth, this intricate collection of 12 colourways uses Newmor’s unique embossing capability to create detailed vertical threads. The fine textured strands are married with layers of subtle colour to create a charming collection that is both delicate and structured.

Getting the texture and colour combination right was key explains Suzanne, ‘we began by developing a palette of highly usable natural shades. Subtle cross colouring added depth to the colour options, for example we mixed shades of tinted greys with heathery purples. Fenn captivates the best of the trend for natural textures and colours seen everywhere at the moment. As a collection it works as well in either a contemporary or classical scheme’.

The palette contains innocent shades of greys, off whites and blues, used in innovative ways which give interior designers the freedom to experiment with texture.

PRODUCT INFORMATION:
• All items fully stocked, order by 5pm for next day UK delivery.
• Designed, manufactured and stocked in the UK
• 5 year warranty against manufacturing defects
• Large samples are readily available on request
• Fully washable and in most cases can be scrubbed repeatedly to remove any marks without damaging the product itself
• Manufactured to include anti-microbial protection as standards to help in the controls of fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria
• Fire Rated
• Resistant to temporary staining of oils, fats, mild acids and alkalines

Click here to contact Newmor: newmor.com

Morgan at Clerkenwell Design Week 2015

Visitors to the 1 Dallington Street showroom during this year’s CDW can expect an exciting and participative programme of events.British artist David Shillinglaw will create a thought-provoking installation on the main double-height gallery wall. The work is entitled ‘Black Box Kaleidoscope’ and the inspiration is ‘Positive-Proper-Gander’. David will be running art workshops in the showroom on Wednesday 20th May at 12pm and 4pm.
Visit www.morganlondon.uk to reserve your place as spaces are limited.

Morgan Studio will be launching the new Kyoto collection at CDW. Inspired by Japanese gardens and bridges, this is a system of linear benches that interlock to create reception area seating. It is fully upholstered and features timber, glass or marble table tops. An official launch party for the new product will take place on Wednesday 20th May from 5.30pm, sponsored by Andrew Muirhead.

On Tuesday 19th May at 10am, visitors are invited to view an exhibition of short-listed entries for the FIRA Future@Work student design competition, sponsored by Morgan. In addition, leading industry ergonomist Levent Çaglar, from FIRA, will be discussing the evolution of the workplace and sharing his predictions for the future. A total of £5000 will be awarded to the top 3 winners, including the winner from visitors voting during CDW.

Crosta & Mollica will be serving delicious Italian Bruschetta from their stylish 3 wheeled Piaggio Ape, in front of the Morgan showroom throughout the week.

For more information about Morgan, visit www.morganfurniture.co.uk

This Spring will see a beautiful new addition to the Skopos Upholstery portfolio. The new Boulevard collection takes influence from architectural detailing with facets of metallic yarn glinting in contrast to a soft chenille and natural matt backdrop, adding texture, warmth and contemporary flavour. The two designs: a sophisticated chevron and a small scattered check, are presented in a range of current colours to add an elegant finishing touch to contract interiors. The Boulevard designs have been specially developed to work across interiors for hospitality, leisure and cruise, offering designs that contrast beautifully together or work well alone, to fit with the needs of the project.

The collection comes with a Crib 5 flame retardant backing as standard.

The collection meets the requirements for Flame Retardancy standards across the UK and Europe, IMO standards and matches severe contract requirements with up to 50,000 martindale rubs.

Free samples of the collection are available now. Please call 01924 436 666 for more details or visit our website to view the collection.

Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and has over 35 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the hospitality and leisure sector.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™, the company’s 10th brand and second collection of independent hotels. Promising owners, Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) members and guests the ability to “Stay Independent,” the Tribute Portfolio brand will be comprised of outstanding independent hotels and resorts. With a firm focus on four star, upper upscale hotels, Tribute Portfolio will complement Starwood’s The Luxury Collection brand and further solidify Starwood as the world’s most global high-end hotel company. The brand will make its début today with its first featured hotel, the iconic Royal Palm South Beach Miami and will soon open new hotels in Asheville, North Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. “With Starwood’s history of brand innovation, design leadership and our leading global high-end footprint, we believe Tribute Portfolio will be an exciting solution for hotel owners of distinct properties who wish to maintain their independent spirit, yet benefit from Starwood’s powerful distribution, loyalty and sales platforms,” said Adam Aron, Starwood’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our mission with Tribute Portfolio is very simple: bring great hotels in great destinations to our loyal SPG members, who make up more than half of all Starwood stays.”

Aron continued, “We recognize that independent hotels also attract guests who are not already affiliated with SPG. Tribute Portfolio will provide a clear opportunity for us to grow our SPG member base and deliver more loyal guests across all of our Starwood hotels worldwide.”

With a long runway to grow, Starwood expects 100 Tribute Portfolio hotels by 2020

Aron said Starwood’s goal is to have 100 Tribute Portfolio hotels and resorts over the next five years. Initial focus on growth of this new brand will be in North America and Europe, and travellers can expect to see Tribute Portfolio properties in global markets within the first year.

“Nearly 50% of upper upscale hotels in the U.S. are independent, and likewise, 60% of four star hotels globally are not affiliated with a brand flag. This provides Starwood with a vast landscape to grow Tribute Portfolio,” said Dave Marr, Senior Vice President of Brand Management, North America and Global Brand Leader for Tribute Portfolio. “In speaking with many owners, it is clear that they welcome the opportunity to partner with Starwood to enhance the performance of their independent hotels. They are attracted to the benefits that will come from the power of SPG and our high-end Starwood sales customers coupled with the flexibility of minimal brand specific standards.”

Starwood’s The Luxury Collection, the hotel industry’s original “collection brand,” featuring some of the world’s most iconic independent luxury hotels, is in the midst of its most prolific growth spurt in its 21-year history. In the last decade, The Luxury Collection brand has tripled its footprint, growing more than 60% in the last five years alone. Marr continued, “Starwood has meticulously handpicked the luxury hotels featured in The Luxury Collection, and we will just as carefully select independent, upper upscale properties for Tribute Portfolio, ensuring a consistent high-end experience that meets guest and SPG member expectations around the world.”

Tribute Portfolio Answers SPG Members’ Demand for More Hotels in More Destinations, Plus Offers 10,000 Point Bonus

Tribute Portfolio properties will be located in high-demand destinations and markets where SPG members travel but today Starwood has little or no footprint.

“Our SPG members constantly tell us they want more choices in more destinations, and we see Tribute Portfolio as a nod to our members who have been front and center as we developed this brand,” said Mark Vondrasek, Starwood’s Senior Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty and Partnership Marketing. “They have told us they would like to stay with us whenever and wherever they can, and now we can reward them as they ‘Stay Independent.’”

According to a recent survey of SPG members conducted by Communispace in the SPG Advisory Community, 89% said they are interested in staying in independent hotels, particularly for leisure travel and special occasion trips to unique destinations. Additionally, nearly 70% of members said they have already stayed at an un-branded hotel property, representing a strong opportunity for the company. SPG members identified a diverse North American hotel wish-list that includes more Florida and Caribbean resorts as well as locations in California wine country, Las Vegas, and boutique markets like Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. The list of “most wanted” global destinations features Alpine ski markets, African safari retreats, Southeast Asia resorts and Northern Europe, especially the Nordic countries. Demand is also on the rise for more hotels in South America, led by Rio, São Paulo and Buenos Aires as well as across Asia in primary markets such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Vondrasek continued, “SPG is the world’s richest hotel loyalty program. Our concentration of high-end hotel brands plus partnerships with companies like Delta, Uber, American Express, and Emirates Airline continue to raise the stakes in loyalty and make it very compelling for mega travelers to choose to stay with Starwood. With Tribute Portfolio, we are thrilled to offer members access to some of the world’s most exciting independent hotels.”

As with Starwood’s other nine brands, SPG members will be able to earn and redeem Starpoints® at Tribute Portfolio hotels and enjoy in-hotel elite tier benefits, such as upgrades, welcome amenities, late check-out and more. In celebration of Starwood’s 10th brand, SPG is offering members up to 10,000 bonus points for stays at Tribute Portfolio hotels through July 15, 2015. For more information and to register, visit www.spg.com/tributeportfolio.

From Miami to Nashville, Tribute Portfolio on Track to Reach 10 Hotels in First Year

The Tribute Portfolio brand’s debut property, the iconic Royal Palm South Beach Miami, boasts direct beach access to world famous South Beach and is ideally located on Collins Avenue, steps from Ocean Drive and the area’s luxury retail shopping and entertainment district. Owned by Chesapeake Lodging Trust and managed by HEI Hotels & Resorts, the Royal Palm South Beach, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, has been recently restored by Lauren Rottet of Rottet Studio as a modern homage to the hotel’s rich history. Dating back to 1939, the Royal Palm features 393 guestrooms, including more than 100 suites, two swimming pools surrounded by contemporary cabanas, a fully equipped gym, and more than 10,000 square feet of modern meeting and event space. Signature dining options include Florida Cookery Patio, an outdoor dining experience with approachable, local fare; South Shore bar and lounge, featuring a small plates menu and extensive cocktail list; and The Coffee Bar, providing all day coffee, juices, teas and pastries set in the hotel’s original green glass reception desk. A new destination restaurant, Byblos, will open this summer and feature Eastern Mediterranean fare by Executive Chef Stuart Cameron. Designed by Canadian design firm Munge Leung, this will be the first US outpost of the Toronto favorite.

Tribute Portfolio also launches with four soon-to-open hotel properties. In Asheville, North Carolina, the well-known BB&T Bank building, which draws inspiration from renowned modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, will open in 2017 as the Vandre Nouveau Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. The property is a partnership between McKibbon Hotel Group and Tower Associates and will include 150 guest rooms and suites, a destination restaurant and lobby bar, and more than 4,000 square feet of modern meeting and event space.
Starwood is also working with Rockbridge to open three Tribute Portfolio hotels. Debuting in 2016, the historically significant Noel Place Hotel in the Printers Alley area of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, will undergo a comprehensive renovation and feature 166 guestrooms and suites, a destination restaurant, rooftop bar and speakeasy. Also slated to open in 2016, a new build hotel in Savannah, Georgia, will be perfectly situated on River Street in the city’s Historic District and include 173 guestrooms and suites, an 11,000 square foot indoor/outdoor rooftop bar, outdoor swimming pool, and destination restaurant. In 2017, Tribute Portfolio will debut in the Historic District of Charleston, South Carolina, with a 100 guestroom hotel featuring a rooftop pool and bar, signature restaurant, and 11,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space.

Hotels are Hero in New Marketing Campaign Launching Tribute Portfolio

In connection with today’s Tribute Portfolio announcement, Starwood will run full-page advertisements that prominently feature the brand’s tagline of “Stay Independent” in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, showcasing the first hotel to join the brand. Simultaneously, the company will launch an extensive global campaign to promote Tribute Portfolio in digital, social and traditional media channels, including advertising in both consumer and B2B print and digital outlets and event activations in key global markets. Starwood has also partnered with Instagram, the most engaged channel for SPG members, as one of the first brands to utilize the photo sharing platform’s new ad carousel format. As new hotels and resorts join the Tribute Portfolio brand, the campaign will continue to expand to further fuel excitement around the brand.

Tribute Portfolio will also launch with a digital initiative that will zero in on extraordinary independent moments found at hotels throughout the brand. Dubbed #OurLikes, the campaign will celebrate the captivating features and experiences that travelers love about staying independent. Going beyond the typical hotel brochure, these socially sourced vignettes from guests will unveil the secret spots, must-sees and can’t miss experiences of Tribute Portfolio hotels, such as the dimly-lit Edison bulbs that lead the way to an underground whiskey bar, the off-the-menu cocktail with ingredients the bartender will never disclose, or the undiscovered corner of the rooftop lounge that offers an uninterrupted view of the sunset.
“What makes Tribute Portfolio stand out is its simple focus on great independent hotels in exciting places that we know will absolutely delight our SPG members and guests,” concluded Marr.

People are changing. New York is changing. Luxury is changing. With The New York EDITION, Ian Schrager and Marriott International respond to this changing landscape by introducing a new luxury for a new generation.The New York EDITION makes its debut in the world-famous, iconic “Clocktower” building, otherwise known as the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Napoleon LeBrun & Sons and completed in 1909. At the time, it was the tallest building in New York City until the Woolworth building appeared in 1913. It is situated on Madison Square Park in a neighbourhood of the city referred to as NoMad.

This new and exciting emerging area has never had a luxury hotel before. As a result, the Clocktower extends the very boundaries of luxury in New York City. The area has recently been transformed by the development of myriad luxury residential condominium buildings and fine dining restaurants, and is now ripe for luxury hotels. It sits right on the border between uptown and downtown, north of the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Soho and Tribeca, and south of the 57th street shopping corridor and Times Square. With forces pushing from every direction, this area, together with Hudson Yards, is fast becoming the new centre of town. “Luxury has a new address,” says Arne Sorenson CEO of Marriott International. “With the opening of our first EDITION hotel in New York City and the loving restoration of the century old Clocktower building, we have ushered in a new era of timeless hospitality.”

The 273-room hotel will be activated by day and by night with a restaurant by London’s hottest young chef Jason Atherton, 2 bars and a billiard room. Inside, much of the building’s existing design was embraced, retaining and restoring the original dark wood on the walls and the floors on the second floor. But, the old was offset with the new to add a downtown New York City feel. The lobby and lobby bar’s classic Venetian plaster walls starkly contrast the custom cast concrete oversized windows that look out over Madison Square Park. The 30ft-long hand forged blackened steel fireplace and the sculptural spiral staircase leading up to the second floor are modern interpretations of those found in the grand mansions of Millionaire’s Row. The Jean-Michel Frank-inspired coffee tables and chairs of the 1920’s, Christian Liagre-designed floor lamps, concierge desk and chair, and lounge chairs inspired by modernist Erik Koling Andersen and Alvaro Alto all with fabrics and leathers in soft tones of oatmeal, silver and white, create a light and airy feel that is both warm and inviting. “It is impossible to label this look,” says Schrager. “And rightly so. We are never out for a look. We are out for a feel and an experience.”

The restaurant, on the second floor overlooking the park, is where the subtle play of modern and period design continues in new forms. Three intimate dining rooms, a parlour with a billiard table and a library serving cocktails, after dinner drinks and dessert, are separate as in a private home, but come together seamlessly to form a whole. Drawing from over four centuries of art and design, the rooms feature original herringbone oak floors, original mahogany wainscoting on the walls, and a restored Venetian plaster ceiling. The velvet chairs and banquettes, upholstered in rose, green and blue, are inspired by the vibrant colours of the Dutch masters, notably Vermeer. Each of the three dining areas has a large chandelier by modernist designer Eric Schmitt. They are made from three black iron arms that support a 7ft diameter ivory plaster ring.

Above the lobby and the restaurant are the 273 guest rooms. Guests enter into a dark oak wood panelled foyer, much as they would if they were entering an upscale New York apartment in the 1920s. The rooms are serene, comforting and feel like an oasis from the outside world. There is visual drama, too. The original windows in each room perfectly frame the New York City skyline. Many of the suites have 180-degree views of Manhattan and the 1,400 square foot penthouse apartment has 360-degree vistas. Each room has a classic, extra-long and deep floating white oak desk, inspired by Jean-Michel Frank, and a bed with a dark walnut headboard and a custom-built walnut platform with bespoke walnut nightstands.

Travellers’ tastes are changing when it comes to service, too. The EDITION brand has responded to this change by offering modern service that is accessible and gracious, charming and attentive, but not familiar, where the staff treats guests as individuals knowing just when to offer to help and just when to get out of the way. It expels traditional obsequious and pretentious service that today’s travellers are no longer interested in. EDITION creates the right service infrastructure to enable these travellers to do what they want to do, whatever it may be, whenever. One example can be seen with dining options. EDITION restaurants and room service offer the finest rare cuts of beef and wild Atlantic salmon, if that’s what guests want. But if a guest prefers a simple pasta with tomatoes and olive oil or a burger, those offerings will be available, delicious and won’t break the bank.

Marriott International has recently announced plans to open the first Courtyard by Marriott brand hotel in Curaçao in the city of Willemstad. The project will be developed by CMC Real Estate N.V. The 177-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel, scheduled to open in 2017, will be located only a few blocks from the existing cruise ship terminal. The property will be part of a mixed-used development that will include retail space, an entertainment area, three restaurants and a casino.

“The Courtyard by Marriott brand was a perfect fit for this hotel, and combined with Marriott’s backbone and sales engine, we are confident that the hotel will be highly successful and play a large role in the continued emergence of island,” said Mr. Klaus Moser, one of the shareholders and operator of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Curaçao.

“The changing economic climate across the world and today’s technology has changed how people travel,” said Andrew Houghton, Area Vice President of the Caribbean at Marriott International. “Our guests want a room that has purpose and flexibility that enables a seamless transition between relaxing and working. Courtyard is designed to offer them a relaxing and functional space to work and enjoy their vacation the way they want to, when they want to.”

“With the success of the brand across Latin America and the Caribbean, the Courtyard by Marriott brand has become a favourite amongst regional travellers”, Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Caribbean & Latin America, Marriott International. “The new hotel in Curaçao will be a significant milestone in our rapid expansion across the Caribbean.”

The hotel will feature the brand’s signature refreshing business lobby, lobby bar, a coffee shop, an outdoor pool, fitness centre and flexible meeting space. Additionally, it will include the brand’s new modern guestroom design which is intuitive and thoughtful, offering flexible yet comfortable spaces that enable technology.

Marriott International is currently represented in Curaçao with the 248-room Curaçao Marriott Resort & Emerald Casino, and the 240-room Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino.

Join Roca for the 2015 edition of the AJ Women in Architecture (WIA) Talk, where we honour the contributions made by this years winners. We also welcome Amanda Levete, founder of architectural practice AL_A, who will pay a special tribute to the late Moira Gemmill, a WIA awards judge. Joint winners of the Emerging Woman Architect of the Year award vPPR Architects, and Woman Architect of the Year Teresa Borsuk (pictured) of Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects will discuss their careers and design approach. A Q&A session moderated by AJ editor Christine Murray will follow.

Event: 30th April 2015

Read more here

Tweet @RocaLONGallery with #WIA2015 and give us your views on the night.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation are pleased to announce the opening of Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad, the second Hyatt-branded property in Ahmedabad and the first Hyatt Regency-branded hotel to open in Gujarat state.Strategically located in the city centre, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad is within walking distance of the Sabarmati riverfront, only 20 minutes (9.4 km/5.8 mi) from the airport and in close proximity to the business and shopping districts. The hotel offers: 210 spacious rooms, including 19 suites; large meeting space options for corporate and social events; and multiple dining options to suit every occasion.

Guestrooms
Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad features 210 guestrooms including 19 suites, which offer a peaceful view of the Sabarmati River as well as the city of Ahmedabad. Ranging from 355 to 1,614 square feet, the guestrooms are contemporary and spacious. They are furnished in soothing shades and provide a refreshing elegance for guests to relax and revitalize. Each guestroom offers an ergonomically designed minibar; an iHome station with Bluetooth connectivity, digital clock and radio; a 40” LED TV; motorized curtains; and a spacious rain shower with a moveable wooden bench rest for guest convenience and comfort.

Dining
China House serves the spicy cuisine of the Sichuan province of China. The original China House at Grand Hyatt Mumbai is an award-winning, trend-setting restaurant. The Ahmedabad version has been designed to resemble a contemporary Chinese home with unconventional interiors, stylish private dining rooms, semi-private booths and open areas. The in-house signature beverages and authentic and delicious dishes cater to discerning appetites.

Tinello is an exclusive home-style Italian restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is designed like a living room with interactive food stations.

The vibrant and chic Juniper Lounge is an ideal place for networking, informal meals and quiet business meetings. It serves an eclectic mix of Indian and international specialties in a relaxed ambience with hot and cold beverages as well as a special selection of farsaan.

Adjoining the lounge is a well-stocked retail bar, offering a premium selection of aperitifs, spirits, world wines and beer, all of which are consumable in the comfort of the guestroom.

Open around the clock, the Chai Shop is a casual tea and coffee house, serving a range of premium coffees, teas, fresh morning and evening bakes, an assortment of savories and exotic pastries.

Regency Club
Guests can enjoy the Hyatt Regency brand’s ‘hotel within a hotel’ concept at Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad. Located on the 10th floor, the Regency Club is unique to the city and offers a stunning view of the Sabarmati riverfront and skyline. Guests staying in Club floor rooms can enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres.

Fitness & Relaxation
Aadi Spa’s holistic approach toward health and fitness focuses on a balanced mind, body and soul. Guests’ health needs can be met at the hotel’s recreational facilities, which include a Fitness Center equipped with cardio and strength training. Aadi Spa features five treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge and dedicated male and female wet areas. The wellness and relaxation facilities also include a 65-foot lap pool and whirlpool nestled into a landscaped garden terrace and a beauty salon.

Meeting & Event Space
With the expected growth in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) demand in India, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad offers more than 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space, making it one of the largest hotel meetings and events facilities located in a five-star hotel in Ahmedabad. The spacious 6,045-square-foot Regency Ballroom with a 20-foot ceiling has an adjoining pre-function area. The ballroom can be further divided into two sections of 2,906 square feet and 3,132 square feet, respectively, for more intimate events. The hotel also offers two boardrooms, four meeting rooms and two flexible break away rooms that can be customized to suit guests’ needs.

With this extensive range of facilities and a separate entrance option, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad presents a perfect venue for a variety of events such as weddings, social banquets and conferences. The latest audio and visual equipment supported by a highly trained and dedicated team is on standby to take care of every detail and ensure the success of all events at the hotel.

Nicolas James Group is pleased to announce that preliminary work is now underway on the development of its new Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa at Ocean Village.The start of the development marks a major milestone for the city, introducing Southampton’s first luxury five star standard hotel.

Enabling works and setting out are now underway, with construction due to follow in the next few months. The anticipated works program will then run for approximately 18-24 months.

Joining the Harbour Hotels portfolio, which currently features five premium hotels across the south west, the hotel will become the brand’s flagship property. Mike Warren, Managing Director of Harbour Hotels, comments:

“We are delighted that preliminary work is now underway for this exciting project. We are very confident that the hotel and its facilities will prove a fabulous addition to Southampton, boosting tourism and becoming a destination of choice for city-dwellers and visitors alike.”

A crucial boost for Southampton, the hotel will include 85 bedrooms, an indulgent Harbour Spa, with gym and swimming pool, along with the group’s award-winning Jetty restaurant concept, featuring a luxurious rooftop Champagne Bar.

Dawn Baxendale, Chief Executive of Southampton City Council, said: “It is fantastic news to hear that this exciting, luxury development is now moving forward. It will further establish Southampton’s waterfront as a magnificent destination for visitors and residents alike. The project endorses our wider City Centre Master Plan aspirations for Southampton; creating jobs, leisure opportunities and homes, while extending the range of developments already taking place across the city that will support our future economic supremacy on the south coast.”

The ground floor is set to include a large open plan lounge, restaurant and bar, which will extend out onto a terrace at the end of the existing promontory. The hotel will also feature private moorings for its seafaring guests.

Dean Smith, Operations and Marketing Director at MDL Marinas, commented: ““We are delighted that construction work has begun on what promises to be an incredible new hotel. This exciting new luxury development is the city’s first luxury five star standard hotel and will generate considerable benefits for the area upon its completion.”

“Alongside our world-class marina and the new Admiral’s Quay development, the hotel will represent another major step towards establishing Ocean Village as Southampton’s premier waterfront destination.”

A renowned London design house has been appointed to create luxury, nautical inspired interior concepts, with yacht chic décor and a coastal colour palette.

Set to be a welcome addition to the city, the hotel will have a number of flexible function rooms and will become a popular attraction during the annual Southampton Boat Show, offering additional restaurants and facilities in a waterfront setting.

Alongside the hotel, the Nicolas James Group is developing 100 luxury residential apartments for sale, with water views and exclusive use of the hotel’s Harbour Spa.

Located just minutes from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) and the legendary “Las Vegas Strip,” Four Points by Sheraton Las Vegas East has recently opened with stylish and comfortable design for the smart traveller. “We are delighted to introduce our fast-growing Four Points brand to the lively city of Las Vegas,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Speciality Select Brands for Starwood.

“Four Points Las Vegas East Flamingo will resonate with global travelers seeking an honest value, great rates and genuine service while staying in ‘the Entertainment Capital of the World.’”

Owned and managed by JP Sethi Enterprises, Inc., the five-story hotel offers 129 spacious guest rooms, 1,625 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, full-service dining, an outdoor pool and fitness centre.

Guests will enjoy all of the brand’s popular amenities including fast and free WiFi, complimentary bottled water, and a wide selection of craft and imported beer as part of the signature Best Brews™ program.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently announced the opening of the first Holiday Inn® hotel in the resort town of Huatulco, following a $6 million investment by the ownership. The 83-room new-build Holiday Inn Huatulco hotel is located near one of the most beautiful beaches in the southwestern state of Oaxaca and offers unrestricted views of the Pacific Ocean. Family-friendly amenities at the Holiday Inn Huatulco hotel include a swimming pool, a fully-equipped fitness center, Kids’ Club for children from 4 to 11 years and meeting space with capacity for 25 people. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s lobby and pool bars as well as the Jaguar restaurant which offers various local traditional dishes including mole con pollo, Tlayudas, Camarones al Mezcal and Tamal Oaxaqueño. Kids 12 and younger eat free when ordering from the kids’ menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult.

The Holiday Inn Huatulco hotel, located at Blvd. Benito Juarez 6054 Sector “A”, Santa Maria Huatulco, is owned and managed by Inmobiliaria Balroy, S.A. de C.V.

Following the acquisition of Sanitec by Geberit earlier this year, an integration of the two companies Geberit and Twyford Bathrooms in the UK and Ireland is now underway, building the foundation of a new Geberit company with an unrivalled breadth and strength of offering.Combining the in-front-of-the-wall design competence in ceramics and complementary bathroom products from Twyford with the market leading behind-the-wall sanitary technology of Geberit, the integration of the two businesses will be as seamless as possible with the aim to maintain the high quality service customers have come to expect from the two brands.

As part of the merger, a newly appointed UK Management Team is now in place, under the leadership of UK Managing Director Mark Larden. Andy Lever, previously Commercial Sales Director becomes Sales Director Non Residential, while Jo Edwards has been promoted to Residential Sales Director. Russell Wright, formerly Residential and AquaClean Sales Director isnow Sales Director Retail, while Raffaela De Vittorio is now Marketing and Brands Director. Christine Chitty remains Finance and Administration Director, while former Head of Twyford UK Brent Hudson becomes Products and Technical Director.

The Geberit UK management team will oversee the integration process with the aim to form a new Geberit organisation from January 2016, with single sales, marketing and ordering processes.

Geberit – 0800 077 8365 www.geberit.co.uk

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is delighted to debut the highly anticipated St. Regis Istanbul. Owned by Nisantasi Konaklama ve Otel Hizmetleri A.S. (Demsa Group), The St. Regis Istanbul marks the debut of the luxury brand in Turkey. Nestled in the sophisticated Nişantaşı neighbourhood, The St. Regis Istanbul is surrounded by chic designer boutiques and boutique art galleries. The residential hotel sits atop Maçka Park and boasts breath-taking, floor-to-ceiling views of the Bosphorus from each of the 118 guestrooms and suites. Designed by Turkish architect Emre Arolat, The St. Regis Istanbul is a modern interpretation of Istanbul’s glamorous Art Deco era with a variety of contemporary art installations.

Wolfgang Puck’s Iconic Spago Restaurant
The St. Regis Istanbul is home to the first international outpost of Wolfgang Puck’s iconic Spago restaurant, which stars as the hotel’s signature culinary experience. Located on the hotel’s rooftop, the restaurant offers contemporary design and stunning views of the vibrant city. Poised to be the best address for celebrity spotting in Istanbul, the Spago lounge offers a seductive atmosphere above the busy streets of Istanbul all year round.

Exquisite Culinary Experiences
While the St. Regis Brasserie offers street-side action: an indoor show kitchen and bustling outdoor terrace, reminiscent of a Parisian café, the Petit “O” Bar follows the St. Regis tradition of creating a signature Bloody Mary cocktail with a local twist. Guests can enjoy the Misty Mary cocktail amidst the “Bosphorus Breeze” mural by Bedri Baykam, the Turkish artist commissioned to create a whimsical mural as the focal point for the bar. The mural is symbolic of the brand’s evolution: a modern iteration of the iconic King Cole Mural at The St. Regis New York, commissioned by St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor IV.

Impeccable Design
St. Regis’ commitment to art and design is brought to life at The St. Regis Istanbul, which showcases works by both internationally-acclaimed and emerging Turkish artists as part of the Demsa Collection of Art. This is complemented by custom pieces created for the hotel, including the spectacular Lasvit chandelier, which takes centre stage in the lobby.

The St. Regis Istanbul features an exquisitely designed Bentley Suite, second in the world only to the Bentley Suite at the brand’s flagship hotel in New York. Providing guests with the luxury, craftsmanship and style associated with both renowned international brands, the suite draws inspiration from the Bentley Continental GT model and features hand-crafted finishes and one-of-a-kind furnishings throughout.

Iridium Spa & Beyond Expectation Events
Born from the DNA of the timeless sophistication of the St. Regis brand, Iridium Spa offers a transformative spa journey that bestows the rarest luxury of all: time. With seven treatment rooms and two hammams, the spa offers bespoke treatments tailored to guests’ needs in an idyllic setting. The spa also features an indoor pool and fitness centre with the latest Technogym equipment designed by Antonio Citterio.

The St. Regis Istanbul is the perfect venue for special occasions, including exquisite weddings and intimate business gatherings. The hotel has seven meeting rooms, including the prestigious Astor Ballroom, setting an incomparable stage for a truly unforgettable event.

When Berkeley Homes built Ebury Square, a luxury development in Belgravia in central London, statement, high quality lighting was essential for the reception area that would be the first impression for residents and their guests. Working to interior designer Goddard Littlefair’s brief, Dernier & Hamlyn manufactured a number of chandeliers including one featuring hundreds of handmade glass lozenges, which were individually handpinned to a circular crystal fitting and mounted onto an antique brass framework. All of the elements of this stunning chandelier were then taken to the site where it was dressed and installed by Dernier & Hamlyn’s highly skilled team. Jo Littlefair, director and co-founder of Goddard Littlefair says: “From the outset we knew we wanted lighting in Ebury Square’s main entrance that was going to be a big focal piece. So whoever we chose to manufacture it had to be as passionate as us about attention to detail and exceeding our client’s requirements.”

Dernier & Hamlyn also manufactured other bespoke light fittings including chandeliers and lanterns for various public areas of Ebury Square that showcased a multitude of the unique skills of the Dernier & Hamlyn design, manufacturing and technical teams.

Jo Littlefair continues: “Dernier & Hamlyn worked hard to design and produce perfect lighting solutions to meet both our aesthetic and technical needs. We and our clients are delighted with the end result and I have the utmost respect for what the company does and for the way they worked with us. From helping us to source what was needed to fulfil what we had presented as CGI design proposals through to the high quality manufacture and very accommodating installation team, we were very impressed and will continue to use them for many other prestigious client projects.”

For more information, please visit www.dernier-hamlyn.com

Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott International, Inc., celebrates the grand opening of Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown, the first Marriott International property for the country. Surrounded by the high-tech features and iconic glamour of the all-new Marriott Hotel, the 500 VIP guests, enjoyed the live music of the National Steel Orchestra, sipped on the Guyana Marriott Signature cocktail and dined from a specially curated menu by our executive chef of international and local Guyanese delights.The night of celebration offered the perfect opportunity to showcase the iconic brand’s belief that travel should be brilliant to attract the next generation of travellers. In attendance was the President of The Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Donald Ramotar along with Guyanese celebrities, local influencers and Marriott executives.

Guyana Marriott Ribbon Cutting Ceremony April 16th “This is a very exciting time for Marriott across Latin America – we plan to reach 150 hotels open and under development in the Caribbean and Latin America by end of 2017 and are thrilled to now be expanding into Guyana with our new partners,” said Rahul Vir, Area Vice President of South America at Marriott International. “With this project, not only are we bringing more hotel rooms to the Guyanese market, but also elevating the standards of hospitality in Georgetown which is experiencing a large growth in tourism.”

“We are confident that this beautiful hotel will be highly successful and open doors of opportunity for the local Guyanese workforce,” said Roberto Grisi, General Manager at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown. This hotel has over 200 wonderful Guyanese associates who have been through over 300 hours of Marriott’s world-class training to prepare them to receive our valued guests with open arms.”

TECHNOLOGY
The Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown débuts technology throughout the property starting with offering the fastest wireless internet available on the market making easier for travellers to stay connected through email, social media and video streaming. Recognizing that guests are dependent on their mobile devices, the hotel will offer the company’s innovative mobile check-in service for a seamless arrival process for guests. The property will also feature Red Coat Direct, a first-of-its-kind app that lets meeting planners input and adjust meeting requests with a swipe of a screen. Business travellers will appreciate the state-of-the-art fitness centre, complimentary for hotel guests only. Built for the athletic guest in mind, the fitness facility features the latest equipment and tech for cardio, strength and core training.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto. Located in the Arashiyama district in the western part of Kyoto, Suiran is situated on the riverside with sweeping views of the Arashiyama hills, a National Historic Site, and Place of Scenic Beauty, which is home to the famed Bamboo Grove. The residential hotel occupies part of the grounds of Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage site that formerly housed “Rantei,” a well-known traditional Japanese ryokan from the 1960s long used by the Japanese government to entertain honourable guests.

Suiran features 39 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms, inspired by traditional ryokan-style accommodations, ranging from 500 to 1,000 square feet. Each room is designed to feature traditional motifs and culturally significant hues, while offering unparalleled natural vistas each season: from the dramatic cherry blossoms in Spring and the lush verdure in Summer, to Autumn’s bright tapestry of leaves and silvery blankets of snow in Winter.

Suiran also offers two private treatment rooms equipped with a Japanese-style open-air bath as well as the option for in-room treatments. Guests can enjoy traditional Japanese-style treatments, including SEIRAN, a body massage with tea seed oil, scrub with green tea and facial treatment with jade stones and collagen mask.

Exquisite Culinary Experiences
Suiran has preserved elements of its esteemed past, including two original structures, “Enmei-kaku,” which was built in 1899, and “Hasshoken,” constructed in 1910, which have undergone extensive restoration and now house the hotel’s restaurant, Kyo Suiran, and café, Saryo Hassui. Kyo Suiran offers a traditional yet modern dining experience where guests can enjoy locally inspired flavours in an authentic atmosphere. With its exposed straw-thatched roof, pillars and moon-shaped windows, Saryo Hasui serves exquisite meals centred around Japanese green tea.

Suiran is owned by Mori Trust Co., Ltd., Suiran.

Group business is booming and so is construction on the Mandalay Bay Convention Center expansion, adding 350,000 square feet of exhibit space, more carpeted ballroom space and 900 underground parking spaces for a total of more than 2 million square feet. The foundation has been laid and the underground garage, construction footings and columns all have been completed.The $66 million project is on schedule to welcome its first attendees in August, with the anticipated completion of the entire expansion and renovation in January 2016.

Construction began in October 2014 and since then 88,000 cubic yards of dirt have been excavated, 29,115 cubic yards of concrete poured and 200 construction jobs created. Forming the framework of the expansion’s Phase I is 335 tons of joists, 650 tons of trusses, 1,600 tons of structural steel and 548 tons of decking.

With the Mandalay Bay Convention Center expansion, Mandalay Bay can accommodate growing tradeshows as well as attract new shows with over 900,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space. The added carpeted space will allow for more corporate groups and associations. The project represents the continued commitment Mandalay Bay is making to the meetings and convention industry and to Las Vegas, the No. 1 trade show destination.

“With business volume increasing, this change provides us with more flexibility to host a wider variety of groups,” said Stephanie Glanzer, vice president of Sales for Mandalay Bay. “Whether hosting a small corporate group, mid-size association or large tradeshow, each group will have their own dedicated area within our convention center along with a dedicated team to assist in every detail.”

Hilton Worldwide is preparing to bring its Hilton Garden Inn brand to one of the UK’s top sporting venues, under a franchise agreement with Lancashire County Cricket Club (LCCC). Construction of Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford is expected to begin later this year, before the hotel welcomes its first guests in early 2017. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Our presence at top UK sporting venues is growing, and Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford will be another impressive addition to our portfolio, joining Hilton Wembley, Hilton at St George’s Park, DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes, and Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, which is due to open this year. The hotel will play an important role in enhancing the growing mixed-use offer at Emirates Old Trafford, which has established itself as a thriving business and leisure hub.”

Chairman of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Michael Cairns OBE, said: “We are delighted to be working with Hilton Worldwide in this franchise agreement. The Old Trafford Lodge is now 16 years old and has been a great asset to Lancashire County Cricket Club. However, due to the growth in our conference and events business at Emirates Old Trafford the time has now come to capitalise on the value and suitability of our location and to construct a high quality branded 150-room hotel which will complement our stunning venue. This is another example of a global, world class brand partnering with Lancashire County Cricket Club following our naming rights agreement with Emirates – and we look forward to a hugely successful future together.”

Emirates Old Trafford has been home to Lancashire County Cricket Club for more than 150 years and has played host to a wide range of international sporting, business and entertainment events. Once construction is complete, the hotel will offer 150 guest rooms, spread over five floors, and 24 hour fitness centre.

Adrian Kurre, global head, Hilton Garden Inn, said, “Hilton Garden Inn is now present in more than 600 locations globally, and we are looking forward to bringing our upscale yet affordable brand to Emirates Old Trafford. The surrounding area benefits from robust demand for quality hotel accommodation, and Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford will offer a new standard for guests visiting the LCCC and its many nearby attractions.”

Each Hilton Garden Inn offers guests complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a 24 hour business centre, and a range of dining options. Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford will include a restaurant, bar and The Pavilion Pantry® which will serve snacks throughout the day.

On a cold and fresh day in February with several inches of snow on the ground GALLERY DIRECT delivered 12 rooms of furniture and mirrors to the completely refurbished boutique MUCKRACH COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL in the Scottish Highlands just north of Aviemore. The Victorian shooting lodge has been lovingly restored to its former glory, where contemporary meets Victoriana. Boutique luxury has been brought to the Cairngorm National Park. Muckrach Country House Hotel opens its doors to the public in May 2015. Since January 2014 the historic shooting lodge has been totally refurbished from the bare bones of a soulless granite building into an opulent and lively hotel with a warm Highland welcome with quirky twists to the glamorous luxury and the latest technology. Everyone will become part of the clan!

Frank Hudson SPIRE collection and the spectacular MAINE WING bed with bespoke VERMONT in the sumptuous suites.

Muckrach Country House Hotel is an 11 bedroom Victorian Shooting Lodge set in 10 acres, surrounded by pastureland and a Scottish castle. Once part of the Seafield estate, the lodge was a vibrant hub for shooting and skiing parties of the 1900’s. Locals talk affectionately about Muckrach in its heyday, their sadness during its demise, and their excitement about its detailed restoration.

Frank Hudson MAINE WING bed with VERMONT and MANHATTAN with VALOIS feature mirror creating a stir.

Phil and Ed Cowap, the new owners, said “We are investing in the Highlands because we recognize the quality of the visitor offering in the Cairngorm National Park and we wish to enhance visitor experience by adding a luxury hotel to this area.”

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Keith from Gallery Direct. His attention to detail and vast knowledge of the industry has been invaluable in the refurbishment process. Keith has helped us to create stunning and fabulous bedroom sets which create an immediate impression of luxury and charm. ”

Frank Hudson ALEXANDRIA creates a more feminine look for one suite and COLLECTION D’ ARTICLES for the Laird of the manor.

Every room is different and guarantees the guest a WOW factor and the warmest of hospitality at its best. This could be a hotel that you never want to leave.

Click here to contact Gallery Direct: http://www.gallerydirect.co.uk

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts , will welcome its second JW Marriott Hotel in Turkey on 15 May 2015. The 107-room property is located in the picturesque Yalikavak town on the Bodrum Peninsula with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea, combining the alluring charm of the Turkish coast with JW Marriott’s contemporary design and intuitive service.With a sleek design that is simple yet considered, the hotel will offer visitors 107 tranquil and spacious guest rooms to choose from – including luxury suites and seven villas – overlooking the teal blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Family suites and two bedroom suites are ideal for groups or those travelling with children, whilst many of the villas offer a private pool for the ultimate retreat. The hotel sits on its own private beach and boasts a dock for guests arriving by boat or taking a day trip sailing.

JW Marriott Bodrum will offer exceptional dining experiences in an array of restaurants and bars, including: the Pool Grill, which offers all day dining but is ideal for breakfast as the gentle waves of the bay and slight breeze serve as nature’s best wake-up call; an a la carte restaurant which will serve signature dishes with an artistic flair as the sun sets, and a coffee lounge perfect for a decadent pastry or traditional Turkish coffee. Additionally, the hotel will present a vibrant beach bar serving indulgent cocktails, plus a lobby bar and chill-out bar.

In keeping with JW Marriott’s refined but informal ethos and personal service, JW Marriott Bodrum will offer guests the highest levels of relaxation and indulgence with a 2,000 square metre spa. Working with world renowned spa brands June Jacobs and Thalion, JW Marriott Bodrum’s spa will offer an extensive selection of 24 treatment rooms, a salt room and traditional Turkish baths. June Jacobs marries cutting-edge science with natural products for an efficacious and relaxing result and Thalion are marine cosmetics experts specialising in thalassotherapy. Together the brands will offer a spa experience that JW Marriott Bodrum guests are sure to adore.

Additional hotel facilities will include a kid’s club, two outdoor pools, one which is an infinity pool with views over the bay, and one indoor pool, a 420 square metre ballroom and five meeting rooms. JW Marriott Bodrum will also offer a unique space for al fresco events and weddings overlooking one of the peninsula’s most beautiful bays.

Just as the hotel provides a blend of traditional and contemporary Turkey, the location offers guests proximity to a number of cultural sights and adventure activities including the world-famous Yalikavak Marina, sailing across the Mediterranean, diving sites to explore fantastic reefs and the majestic Bodrum castle, once home to Herodotus, the Greek Historian. Furthermore, the hotel is conveniently located to the Bodrum Amphitheatre, an incredible structure accredited to the reign of King Mausolus, which offers a postcard-perfect view of Bodrum castle and the harbour.

JW Marriott Ankara was the brand’s first hotel in Turkey. JW Marriott Bodrum is the brand’s seventh property in Europe. Global openings planned include JW Marriott Cabo San Lucas Resort, Mexico (2015) and JW Marriott Vancouver Place Stadium, British Columbia, Canada (2016).

Specialist fabric manufacturer, Kobe UK, has introduced the stylish Essente floorstand to display its extensive collection of fabrics.The stands, which are made of a high quality, durable material, are beautifully embossed with the Essente brand, giving soft furnishing and retail customers a distinctive and freestanding brown and cream showcase for their fabrics. The stand has the capacity to hold between 50 – 55 hangers and is delivered fully assembled, direct to the stockist.

Essente offers a wide selection of chic, commercial and easy-care interior fabrics, reaching a broader clientele who enjoy the signature Kobe style – but at affordable prices (no more than £25 per metre at retail), giving value for money.

Said David Harris, md of Kobe UK: “The Essente collection benefits from Kobe quality and expertise while giving access to a wider customer base through its realistic price points. The new stand is the ideal platform on which customers can display their full range of Essente fabrics.”

Within Kobe’s sophisticated new automated warehouse and ERP system, the Essente collection – and its customers – benefit from the logistical excellence of Kobe.

Based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, Kobe UK is a specialist in luxury fabrics and has been supplying UK interior design and soft furnishing customers for 20 years, Kobe has a first class reputation for outstanding quality, innovative design and excellent customer service,

Kobe’s extensive collections create interiors that reflect the very latest trends for today, with a passion for fabrics and wall coverings Kobe considers the innovation and development of high-quality products of paramount importance.

Kobe’s contract sales hold a gold membership with Trevira CS and has a wide range of 100% Trevira CS fabrics – which are Oekoteks 100 certified and are regarded as the highest quality in FR inherent fabrics. Kobe’s vinyl wall coverings are also FR inherent, durable and demand minimal maintenance. They contain recycled materials and are printed using water based inks making them environmentally sound. Kobe wallcoverings can also contribute to a building achieving LEED credits.

Kobe will be showcasing Essente at The May Design Series, London ExCel 17-19 May 2015

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Macerich have recently announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, the first new-build, full-service hotel in Tysons Corner to open in more than 20 years. The 18-story, 300-room Hyatt Regency hotel is designed to offer business and leisure travelers an upscale hotel experience, featuring rich design, modern guestrooms and state-of-the-art meeting space – all in the heart of the trendy downtown Tysons Corner.Situated in one of the most dynamic and visited communities is the metro area, Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center is part of Macerich’s breakthrough Tysons Corner Center mixed-use expansion, which includes the award-winning Tysons Tower trophy office building, VITA luxury apartments (expected to open later this year) and new restaurants, all built around The Plaza, an elevated, 1.5 acre public space with its own stop on the Washington Metro Silver Line. The center of this new vertical urban hub is the 2 million-square-foot Tysons Corner Center mall, drawing millions of visitors each year. The expanded Tysons Corner Center is quickly becoming a new downtown hub of Greater Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Guestrooms
The vibrant and upbeat energy of Tysons Corner is captured in the style of the hotel’s upscale, urban accommodations. The hotel features 300 modern guestrooms, including 17 stylishly appointed suites and one Presidential Suite. Panoramic views from the guestrooms include sweeping views of downtown Tysons Corner and the bustling Plaza at Tysons Corner Center. The contemporary guestroom design evokes the atmosphere of a private apartment with 9-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a separate seating area. Guestrooms are designed with a neutral color palette, set against warm wood tones and adorned with a collection of minimalistic and conceptual artwork. Distinct room features include marble bathrooms with rain shower heads, night-light foot sensors, 48-inch flat panel televisions with remote control, and the luxurious Hyatt Grand Bed®.

Social Spaces and Amenities
Social spaces take on a new meaning at Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center. The smartly configured lobby, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout guestrooms and public spaces, and convenient access to power outlets, meals and snacks are all designed to keep guests in sync with people and information.

Guests wishing to upgrade to the exclusive Regency Club® lounge will enjoy continental breakfast, midday snacks, and hors d’oeuvres and desserts in the evening. The hotel’s 24-hour StayFit® fitness center features state-of-the-art strength training machines and cardiovascular equipment, along with an indoor swimming pool. The hotel also provides guests with the convenience of an open workspace with computer stations and printing services, babysitting, currency exchange, and self-park or valet parking options.

Dining
Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center is home to Barrel & Bushel, a contemporary American-style restaurant and bar located on the Plaza level. The barrel-forward restaurant offers guests regionally-inspired food, the best local and craft beers available with 22 beer taps, more than 30 handpicked bourbons, and handcrafted cocktails. Barrel & Bushel’s menu will boasts fresh, handcrafted delicacies including house-made sausages, artisan desserts and handmade fudge. Private dining at Barrel & Bushel is also available for small parties.

The restaurant also offers Barrel & Bushel Express, a delivery service for guests who wish to eat-in. In addition to Barrel & Bushel, Tysons Corner Center offers a variety of dining options within a short walk from the hotel. Nearby restaurants include the upscale The Capital Grille, as well as more than 50 dining selections, from fast casual to food court options, located at Tysons Corner Center.

Special Events and Meetings Space
Located in the heart of Northern Virginia’s Tysons Corner business district, the hotel is close to the area’s technology and corporate centers, which are home to more than 400 leading companies and near the Pentagon and Defense community. Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center has more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space to accommodate a variety of groups or occasions. The beautiful 7,000-square-foot Regency Ballroom is able to host more than 600 guests with its modern 21-foot-high ceilings and elegant lighting for all occasions, and it can be separated into three small rooms if desired. In addition to the sophisticated ballroom, the hotel has 14 breakout rooms located on the second and fourth floors; the majority offer private terraces with natural light and city views.